Language GCSE uptake lags behind in less affluent schools, report finds

Fewer than half of GCSE students in state schools across England study a modern foreign language (MFL), but the uptake is “significantly higher” in more affluent areas, according to a new report. 

According to the Language Trends England 2025 report from British Council, MFL GCSE uptake is more than 20% higher in the most affluent state schools. 

However, the most deprived state schools have a higher proportion of students who speak an additional language (EAL) at home. This year’s report found nearly a third (30%) of quintile five (less affluent) schools have students with EAL, compared to just 12.8% of quintile one schools. 

State schools were divided into quintiles based on free school meal eligibility. In quintile one, the most affluent, 69% of teachers reported their Year 11 students were taking a language GCSE, compared to 46–47% across less affluent quintiles two to five. Overall, 53% of students study a language GCSE, with the EBacc ambition set at 90%.

The report also found that 68% of the least affluent schools face difficulties recruiting qualified language teachers, compared to 57% in more affluent areas.

Over a third (34%) of MFL teacher trainees were international applicants, 10% higher than the average across other subjects, yet they were almost twice as likely to be rejected as UK-based candidates. 

One of the key barriers preventing schools from employing overseas applicants is the high cost of skilled worker visas, which schools are required to cover if candidates do not already have the right to work in the UK. 

The report also found that Spanish has now overtaken French as the most popular GCSE modern foreign language, with entries rising by 1.6% to 131,985 this year. Despite this, French remains the most offered language at Key Stage 3.

Access to German remains “limited and uneven”, however, and only one school in the most disadvantaged bracket (quintile five) offers German, while 73% of schools teaching it are in quintiles one and two. 

While A-level entries for French, Spanish, German, and other modern languages rose last year, limited provision and small class sizes were found to be making it harder for schools to keep courses running. Just over half of responding schools reported having the capacity to offer A-level languages, either delivered within the school or in partnership with a neighbouring school.

Dr Ian Collen, who helped compile the report, said: “I continue to be concerned about small MFL classes not running at A-level. Local decisions have national consequences; when multiplied throughout England, it means that the language learning journey stops for hundreds of young people. We must invest at post-16 to ensure a healthier pipeline into Further and Higher Education, and indeed the economy. A way to build capacity in MFL at A-level needs to be urgently found.”

Vicky Gough, schools adviser at the British Council, added: “This year’s report shows a clear gap in language learning linked to socioeconomic background. Last year, we found just 6% of students across the UK thought it was very likely they’d use another language in their future career. 

“Together, these findings highlight a stark reality: young people from less privileged backgrounds are missing out on opportunities their peers are more likely to access. That’s why the British Council’s work with the NCLE is so important – to help level the playing field and make language learning more accessible for all.”