Carmel College will appear on the BBC 6pm and 10pm News tonight! Our staff and students talk about the decline in foreign language learning in schools and colleges.
Just before the half term break, we were delighted to welcome Branwen Jeffreys, Education Editor for BBC News. Branwen, along with a Producer and Cameraman, filmed interviews with our Principal, Mike Hill, Yleana our Head of Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) and several of our students. Read article on BBC News
Branwen and her team have been looking at the declining numbers of students studying MFL subjects. This decline is both at GCSE and A Level across the country, in particular German and French. Branwen was particularly keen to speak to our students about why they chose to continue with their language studies.
Languages at Carmel
At Carmel, we have a fantastic legacy of producing outstanding linguists. We combine classroom learning with visits and work experience placements abroad. These really bring studies to life and further inspire our students. Unfortunately, the pressure on post-16 funding, coupled with the changes to language GCSEs and school performance data, has meant a 50% decline in the number of students who want to, or are able to take a language at Sixth Form.
Our MFL department works really hard to encourage and support high school students. Recently we hosted a day for Year 9’s to inspire them to keep up their languages through GCSE and onto A Level.
At Carmel, Mandarin is also available to students across the college as part of our Enrichment Programme. We have been working with the Liverpool Confucius Institute for over 4 years to enable our students to complete the HSK Mandarin courses and gain a qualification. With the visitor economy playing such an important role in the sustainability and future of the Liverpool City Region, we are committed to continuing to offer an outstanding programme of Modern Foreign Languages.
Find out more on our website about studying MFL at Carmel: