Baroness Howe of Idlicote
Main Page: Baroness Howe of Idlicote (Crossbench - Life peer)
Baroness Garden of Frognal
Indeed, and I repeat what I said before: the new national curriculum at key stage 2 will mean that for the first time primary schools will have to teach French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin, Latin or ancient Greek.
Baroness Howe of Idlicote
My Lords, in addition to the British Academy’s conclusion that language tuition should be combined with vocational and STEM subjects, does the Minister agree that a sensible approach might also be to include a compulsory foreign language with all university degree courses?
Baroness Garden of Frognal
The noble Baroness makes a very valuable point. Indeed, many universities are already doing this. We know, for example, that UCL, Aston University and the University of York already have a language provision for all students in their first year. Other universities are combining a language with a science, say, or with another discipline. However, we must encourage them to do more. As to making it compulsory, that is a step that we will probably not be taking.