There has been a sharp decline in the number of students choosing to study modern foreign languages, GCSE results revealed today, after the government decision to make language subjects optional two years ago.

Despite the fall in languages, GCSE results improved again this year, with the overall pass rate in England, Wales and Northern Ireland now 98.1 per cent.
Nearly one in five - 19.1 per cent - of grades awarded were either As or A*s, a rise of 0.7 points on last year.

However, the drop in languages showed entries for German are down by 14.2 per cent and have fallen below the 100,000 mark for the first time in many years. French entries were also down, by 13.2 per cent to 236,189.

The Government came under heavy criticism from teaching groups for making languages optional from September 2004, and the fall in entries last year prompted calls for a review of government policy.

John Dunford, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers and the Association of School and College Leaders said that entries for modern foreign languages were now in "free fall" and this was a major concern.

"Fourteen year-olds are putting themselves at a disadvantage in the job market by giving up modern languages," he said

"The reduced numbers mean that many schools are now shedding modern language teachers. I fear we have passed the point of no return for language GCSEs."

Ellie Johnson Searle, director of the Joint Council for Qualifications, which released the results, said less able pupils were now dropping foreign languages.

"The further loss of entries in French and German is regrettable," Dr Searle said, "but with stronger students left studying modern foreign languages there is a corresponding marked improvement in performance."

This year was the second largest rise in A* - C grades in the past 14 years, beaten only by last year’s increase of two percentage points.

The Joint Council for Qualifications said boys were catching up with girls across the grades – narrowing the gap at grades A* - C by half of 1 per cent on last year, although girls remain far ahead of boys.

Alan Johnson, the Education Secretary, said that the GCSE results are evidence of continuing standards in schools, and no government had done more to improve attainment in basic reading, writing and maths skills.

"I particularly welcome the rise in the numbers achieving in GCSE English and maths," he said.

"These are the foundations of a good education and our further reforms - including more support for those falling behind and changes to the achievement and attainment tables - will ensure that greater numbers achieve in these core skills."

Other figures released today show that the Government has missed its key primary school targets for making sure 85 per cent of 11-year-olds reach the standard expected of their age group in English and maths by 2006.

The figures, from the Department for Education and Skills, showed standards in reading actually fell this year. The proportion of 11-year-olds getting up to Level 4 in reading went down by one percentage point from 2005 to 83 per cent.

In GCSEs, results in the core subjects of English and maths did improve slightly. In English, the proportion of exam entries awarded at least a C grade rose by 0.7 points to 61.6 per cent. While in maths this year 54.3 per cent of exams were given at least a grade C, up by 0.9 points on 2005.

"Students and their teachers can be justifiably proud of the improved results this year, with good performance overall and in the key subjects of English and mathematics," Dr Searle said.

Rises were also seen in the number of students opting to study selective sciences including physics, biology and chemistry.

Religious studies rose most dramatically, up 8.2 per cent on last year, and the interest in media, film and TV continued to grow, with entries up 25.9 per cent to 57, 521.

Research from the Learning and Skills Council, published on Thursday, suggests 22 per cent of employers would not recruit workers without five good GCSEs or the vocational equivalent.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Foxy Knoxy snared by her lust and her lies
• Britain is the land of the shrinking family
• Zac Goldsmith: Not such a green god