The UK Curriculum Review is in: What does it mean for MFL?

A year ago, we wrote about the Government's Curriculum and Assessment Review and asked what it might mean for language learning in schools.

Now we have some answers.

The final review has arrived — and languages remain firmly part of the conversation.

There is plenty for MFL departments to digest, but perhaps one of the biggest issues is the future of accountability measures and the UK Government's decision to move away from the existing English Baccalaureate (EBacc) performance measure.For languages, that matters.

The EBacc has been controversial, but it has also provided schools in England with a clear incentive to encourage students to continue with a language at GCSE.

Changes to that system inevitably raise questions about what happens to language uptake next.But perhaps there's a bigger question too.

‍How do we make students want to continue with a language, regardless of the accountability measure sitting behind it?

‍That means making language learning feel relevant, achievable and connected to something beyond an exam.

Where does This is School fit in?At This is School, that question sits at the heart of what we're trying to do.

Our authentic, unscripted videos bring real people, real voices and culture into the classroom, giving students a reason to engage with languages as something people actually use — not simply another subject they have to study.At the same time, engagement can't come at the expense of attainment.

Our curriculum-aligned activities help students develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing while building the knowledge and confidence they need to succeed at GCSE.And for teachers, we're trying to make that easier to deliver.

Ready-to-use resources, assignments, automatic marking and progress tracking mean less time spent finding and creating materials, and more time for the part that matters: teaching.

The policy landscape in the UK may change.

‍Our job doesn't: help teachers bring languages to life and give more young people a reason to keep learning them.