Teacher Briefing 48: House of Lords Library: In Focus: Modern foreign language education in England December 2025

ALL Briefing 48

Date: January 2026
House of Lords Library: In Focus: Modern foreign language education in England December 2025

Background: A House of Lords Library Briefing was published in December, 2025, ahead of a debate in the House in January 2026: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench) to move that this House takes note of measures, such as visa waivers, to improve the supply chain of qualified modern foreign language teachers and the sustainability of language learning in schools and universities.   This reviews the picture of Languages in education, with this table of contents

1. How are modern foreign languages taught?
   1. Primary and secondary schools
   2. Post-16 education
2. What are the benefits of studying modern foreign languages?
3. Are fewer students studying modern foreign languages?
   1. GCSEs
   2. A-levels
   3. University
   4. International comparison
4. Why are fewer students studying modern foreign languages?
   1. Shortage of specialist teachers
   2. Lack of provision
   3. A ‘vicious circle’
   4. Other factors
5. What is being done to support modern foreign language education?
   1. Government policy
   2. Other measures
   3. Calls for further support

Modern foreign language education in England - please click here.

Please read the Briefing below for Sample salient quotations.

You can read this Teacher Briefing in full here.