Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has held with (a) the Minister for the Cabinet Office and (b) the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union on the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the recruitment and retention of modern foreign language teachers.

The Department works with the Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) and the Home Office to ensure educational workforce supply needs are considered as the UK leaves the EU and moves to a new migration framework.

The Government has commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to provide independent advice, due in September, to help develop a future immigration system. The Department welcomed their interim report in March and the contribution it makes to the immigration debate. Their analysis is incomplete and it would be wrong to pre-empt their final report. The Government will take account of the MAC’s advice when making decisions about the future immigration system.

The recruitment and retention of modern foreign languages teachers domestically is a priority. The Department offers a £26,000 tax-free bursary or £28,000 tax-free scholarship for language trainees and funds training in language teaching for teachers wishing to change subject specialism. A student loan reimbursement scheme for language teachers in the local authorities most in need is also available. Initial Teacher Training providers are supported to develop opt in courses for students on undergraduate language degree courses to gain Qualified Teacher Status.