Pressure will grow for GCSE language exams to be made easier, after a comprehensive study by Durham University disclosed that they are at least a grade harder than many other GCSEs.

The findings are likely to be endorsed by Lord Dearing, who is expected to recommend that language GCSEs should be overhauled and marked more generously in a radical shake-up of language teaching and assessment in schools.

In his report out today, the eminent education reformer will also suggest that children undergo business-style “immersion courses” to learn French, German and even Mandarin and that schools make far greater use of IT.

Lord Dearing was asked to review language teaching to try to improve the take-up in England’s schools, after the number of pupils taking French and German at GCSE plummeted once languages became optional beyond the age of 14 in 2004.

Robert Coe, of Durham University’s curriculum, evaluation and management centre, said that the GCSE results of 650,000 pupils in 2004 proved that Latin, German and French were more than a grade harder than PE and media studies.

“Spanish, German, French — these are about a grade harder than drama, textiles and sport,” he told the annual conference of the Association of School and College Leaders in London.

“So, cynically, if a school had its eye on the five A*-C measure, they would have a much better chance of pupils getting a C if they entered them for the easier subjects than if they put them in for French or German.”

An A* grade in English was harder to gain than in maths, but it was easier to achieve all other grades in English. All science GCSEs were found to be easier than languages, while a grade F in Spanish, IT or history was equivalent to achieving a grade D in media studies, textiles or drama.

The grades were weighted by the average number of people achieving them, but Dr Coe said that the level of difficulty was not a question of subject matter but of exam grading.

John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “There’s no question that children are not opting for languages partly because the exams are harder — most of the motivation is from the kids and not the school — but there has to be an element of league tables and schools not pushing the issue,” he said.

Only 51 per cent of teenagers now take a foreign language GCSE compared with 80 per cent in 2000 and the number is set to fall over the next few years. Languages are now compulsory in only 17 per cent of state schools at this level.

In today’s publication, which builds on last year’s report, Lord Dearing is again expected to recommend that foreign languages be taught in all primaries. He will also say that technology can play a part in boosting interest in languages.

Speaking before publication, he said: “You only have to look at the way kids can’t wait to leave the dinner table to get on to their computers to see the potential. If we want to enthuse the next generation to love and learn languages, we must be innovative.”

As well as allowing pupils to learn Mandarin, Urdu and other nonpresribed languages, he will say that there must be continued investment in language teachers, especially as some schools have a shortage.

Officials said that the Education Secretary, Alan Johnson, would back Lord Dearing’s calls for greater use of technology in promoting languages in schools.

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