Spanish is set to overtake German as the second most commonly taught language after French in state secondary schools, reflecting a change that has already taken place in private schools.

Three years ago, half of state schools offered Spanish but now it is 75 per cent, according to a survey of 2,000 secondary schools in England.

The shift reflects changes in cultural attitudes and in the global balance of economic power. It is also possible that teenagers are wising up to the possibility that Spanish may easier to learn than German.

The annual survey by CILT, the National Centre for Languages, found that the massive decline in language learning in school seen in recent years has halted, although there is little sign that numbers are beginning to rise again.

Tens of thousands of pupils have dropped languages in favour of subjects regarded as easier, such as media studies and drama, since the government controversially made them optional from 14, four years ago.

In 2004 68 per cent of pupils were entered for a modern foreign language at GCSE. This year it was 44 per cent.

Languages are now optional in 78 per cent of state schools, compared to 77 per cent in 2007, suggesting a levelling out in the decline seen in previous years.

Just 45 per cent of state schools are achieving the Government’s minimum recommended benchmark of half of pupils studying languages in year 10, the first year of GCSE - the same proportion as in last year’s survey.

As in previous years, the picture from the independent sector is dramatically different, with 88 per cent of private schools offering compulsory language learning at GCSE level.

The overall performance of schools is also linked to take-up of languages, with only 10 per cent of the lowest performing schools providing language learning for more than half of their pupils at GCSE level, compared to 77 per cent of the highest performing schools.

There are also clear regional differences, with London schools showing an improved take-up, while an increased proportion of schools in the South East, the North East and Yorkshire and The Humber are failing to meet the Government benchmark.

The survey also found that schools taking the new diploma qualification have not shown much enthusiasm for including language study. Only a small number of pioneering schools which offer the Phase 1 Diplomas are including some element of language teaching.

Language learning at younger ages also appears under threat. A third of state schools and a sixth of independents said that weekly lesson time for language learning for 11 to 14-year-olds had been reduced.

Last year a report by Lord Dearing into language learning called for a number of initiatives to be put in place to support schools in motivating pupils and increasing take-up.

And on a more positive note, the survey suggested that this is beginning to happen. Nearly a third of schools have introduced new teaching approaches to try to revive language learning. The number of schools offering qualifications other than GCSE has risen to 41 per cent from 29 per cent last year.

Kathryn Board, chief executive of CILT, said she was optimistic that a turnaround was on the way.

“We are witnessing a period of rapid transformation in the way that languages are taught, accredited, and chosen as options by pupils. Our survey shows that many schools and teachers are making a huge effort to revitalise their language provision,” she said.

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