Policy

Read here about policy with relevance for community languages and intercultural skills in the context of community languages. Select policy articles from the listing to find out important developments and what these mean for you.

The report of the Nuffield Inquiry into Languages was published in 2000. It made 15 recommendations for change to meet the UK’s requirements for languages in the 21^st century.

The government’s National Languages Strategy for England (NLS) was a direct response to Nuffield, as was the Welsh Assembly Government’s strategy Languages Count. The NLS, together with the subsequent Languages Review in 2007, made reference to the importance of community languages and the diversification of the range of languages taught in our education system. The documents featured in these pages post-date Nuffield.

The main Policy pages on the CILT website detail a wider range of key government policy documents which are currently impacting on the support and development of language skills in our education system and beyond. To find out about language policy development in the context of increased mobility and migration, see the Council of Europe website for a summary of initiatives.

Policy articles:

Promoting Language Learning and Linguistic Diversity

01/07/03

[Policy] The European Commission’s plan proposes 45 actions to be undertaken from 2004 to 2006 in three areas:

Opportunity and Excellence

01/03/03

[Policy] Among other developments the Green Paper set up an independent Working Party on 14-19 Reform, chaired by Sir Mike Tomlinson.

The future of higher education

01/01/03

[Policy] The White Paper heralded a series of interlinked and continuing reforms to Higher Education.

The future of Higher Education

01/01/03

[Policy] The White Paper heralded a series of interlinked and continuing reforms to Higher Education.

Languages for all, languages for life

01/12/02

The National Languages Strategy for England.

Revised guidance on disapplication of the National Curriculum at Key Stage 4 for specific purposes under section 363 of the Education Act 1996

01/09/02

[Policy] The first formal authorisation of disapplication, for individual pupils, from languages in Key Stage 4.

Schools - achieving success

01/09/01

[Policy] With relevance for the whole range of curriculum content, including languages, this government policy document initiated debate about a new and more coherent offer for learners aged 14-19.