Shaping the future

The Association helps shape decisions affecting language teachers by representing your views to government and national bodies on matters of concern, new initiatives and policy developments. This happens through regular meetings with government departments and key agencies, responses to consultations, raising specific concerns with relevant bodies.

Influencing policy:

We were consulted on the implementation of the proposed Vetting and Barring Scheme in England and the impact it would have on exchange schemes between schools in England and abroad, which raised many concerns among ALL members. We were able to voice those concerns to government and in the media, which helped contribute to the eventual revision of the legislation. We also contributed to the Rose Review consultation, which recommended that language learning should be a compulsory part of the primary curriculum.

ALL is able to bring the voice of both experts and practitioners to these consultations, often underlining the practical and professional considerations (from the teacher's point of view) that need to be taken into account in policy-making.

Decision-making:

The Association maintains close ongoing links with key organisations in all aspects of language teaching, such as CILT, the National Centre for Languages; The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust; The Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies Subject Centre; the British Council; embassies and cultural institutes and the Chartered Institute of Linguists.