Many GCSE students still aren't taking modern foreign languages – how to motivate them to consider it

By Abigail Parrish, Lecturer in Education, University of Sheffield

Figures for GCSEs taken in 2023 show that entries for GCSEs in languages have increased slightly from last year. Despite this, the number of pupils taking a modern foreign language stands at less than 60% of those that did in the peak year of 2001.

The decline in the number of pupils taking modern foreign languages at GCSE dates back to the government’s decision to make the subject optional from 2004. At this point, the…

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