Curriculum research review series: languages

Languages are an integral part of the curriculum. Learning a language is ‘a liberation from insularity and provides an opening to other cultures’. It helps to equip pupils with the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. It encourages pupils to appreciate and celebrate difference. The languages curriculum should also provide the foundation for learning further languages. It should enable pupils to study and work in other countries. In doing this, the languages curriculum has a potential positive impact on business and the economy.

This review explores the literature relating to the field of foreign languages education. Its purpose is to identify factors that contribute to high-quality school languages curriculums, assessment, pedagogy and systems. We will use this understanding of subject quality to examine how languages are taught in England’s schools.

The purpose of this research review is outlined more fully in the ‘Principles behind Ofsted’s research reviews and subject reports’.

Since there are a variety of ways that schools can construct and teach a high-quality languages curriculum, it is important to recognise that there is no single way of achieving high-quality languages education.

In this review, we have:

• outlined the national context in relation to languages

• summarised a research review into effective practice in the field of foreign language education

• considered curriculum progression in languages, pedagogy, assessment and the impact of school leaders’ decisions on provision

The review draws on a range of sources, including our ‘Education inspection framework: overview of research’ and our 3 phases of curriculum research.

We hope that, through this work, we will contribute to raising the quality of languages education for all young people.