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Reposted by Dr Leanne Henderson

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · 5d

Disadvantaged students ‘more likely to miss out on GCSE foreign languages’

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Disadvantaged students ‘more likely to miss out on GCSE foreign languages’

In 2004, language learning ceased to be compulsory at Key Stage 4, aged 14 to 16.

www.independent.co.uk

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BAAL Language Policy SIG @langpolicy.bsky.social · 16d

Are you working on language policy?

Do you like Spain?

Then apply for the Language Policy Forum 2026 in Spain!

22-23 April, @ucm.es

Venue details, plenary speakers, abstract deadline and submission form on our website: langpol.ac.uk. Go go go! 👇

BAAL Language Policy group

Welcome to the Language Policy special interest group of the British Association for Applied Linguistics. The Language Policy (LP) SIG provides a forum to discuss, critically engage with, and research...

langpol.ac.uk

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Stuart Rowntree @primarythink.bsky.social · Aug 25

"That's not real teaching then is it?"

"Isn't that just crayons and that?"

"You just did it to work with women, I know your game!"

And these are family members and friends...

Teacher Tapp @teachertapp.bsky.social · Aug 25

Nearly half of male primary teachers (45%) say they’ve received negative comments about their role - and 18% heard them as recently as this year. 👎

For your daily dose of data, download the Teacher Tapp app!
📲 bit.ly/DownloadTeacherTapp

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Dr Angela Gallagher @angelatgallagher.bsky.social · Aug 23

'I have additional ideas, beginning with better respecting the glittering diversity of languages emigrants bring to the UK. We wrongly dictate that assimilation in western countries requires shifting to English monolingualism'
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Time for a reality check: Britain cannot be a big player on the world stage unless we speak more languages | Sophia Smith Galer

For all the talk of addressing the problem, things have got worse. Which is criminal when there is so much we could do, says journalist Sophia Smith Galer

www.theguardian.com

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Multilingual Matters @multi-ling-mat.bsky.social · Aug 19

This new Handbook brings together the viewpoints of academics, practitioners, artists and people seeking refuge in Scotland to explore the global learnings that can be gained from this context.

30% off your print copy with code HIR30 and digital version available open access!

buff.ly/j12AWU2

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David Adger @davidadger.bsky.social · Aug 19

Prize draw @queerbritain.bsky.social

Bring LGBTQ+ History to Life in New Exhibition!

Enter now to launch a groundbreaking exhibition and win prizes! Your entry makes a real difference - thank you.

www.crowdfunder.co.uk

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Steve Smith @spsmith45.bsky.social · Aug 10

A new post for teachers interested in language teaching history. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2025/08/wilh...

Wilhelm Viëtor and his legacy

The Reform Movement which began in the last two decades of the 19th century was the start of a huge change in the way languages would be tau...

frenchteachernet.blogspot.com

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · Aug 11

Social mobility in Britain is low 👎

The majority of the public feel that this country is unfair and unequal.

And our research shows that chances of success are heavily shaped by socio-economic background.

But lots can be done to change this ⬇️

Fair opportunity for all - The Sutton Trust

Our roadmap to reducing educational inequality and improving social mobility.

www.suttontrust.com

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Dr. Florence Bonacina-Pugh @bonacina-pugh.bsky.social · Aug 11

Find my recently edited book "Language Policy as Practice: Advancing the Empirical Turn in Language Policy Research" with Palgrave here:
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...

A picture of the front cover of the book "Language Policy as Practice: Advancing the Empirical Turn in Language Policy Research"

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Linguistics in MFL Project @inmfl.bsky.social · Aug 5

There is now a 🔓 1-page summary of our @berj-2025.bsky.social paper on co-creating #linguistics materials with teachers on the OASIS database 👉 www.oasis-database.org/details/mctu... #langsky #mflsky #edusky

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Colin Harvey @cjharvey1.bsky.social · Jul 26

Belfast.

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Mr E @theniceman.bsky.social · Jul 23

www.ox.ac.uk/news/arts-bl...
Nearly 50% of A* grades for A Level German go to native speakers. The exams are too hard for pupils who have learned the language in school. The exam boards cite this as "discriminating well".

Are Modern Foreign Languages exams too difficult? | University of

www.ox.ac.uk

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · Jul 12

💬 "Research by the Sutton Trust finds younger people especially attuned to these disparities: only 21% of 18 to 24-year-olds believe everyone has the same chance to succeed."

Our research cited in @uk.theconversation.com 👇

Welcome to post-growth Europe – can anyone accept this new political reality?

An expert in public policy asks if it will ever be possible for political parties in Europe to be honest about the limits of growth – and still get elected.

theconversation.com

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Steve Smith @spsmith45.bsky.social · Jul 9

It’s a challenge coming up with homework ideas where AI can’t be used to cheat. Using a sentence builder for chunk learning is one. This is another (kind of) frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2018/01/goog...

Google Translate beaters

Google Translate is a really useful tool, but some teachers say that they have stopped setting written work to be done at home because s...

frenchteachernet.blogspot.com

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Dr Leanne Henderson @leannehenderson.bsky.social · Jul 9

As LSP Co-Editors, @emhumps.bsky.social and I want to thank you all for reading and engaging with this Special Collection. Catch up with all the pieces here: www.lspjournal.com/post/languag...

Languages in UK Education: introduction

Wendy Ayres-Bennett and Charles Forsdick | 26th November 2024 | Policy Collection Introduction: statutory contexts across the UKThe substantial differences between England and the three devolved admin...

www.lspjournal.com

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Dr Leanne Henderson @leannehenderson.bsky.social · Jul 9

We are grateful to our Guest Editors @wendya-b.bsky.social & @cforsdick.bsky.social for their leadership of the collection and each valued contributor who took time to communicate their insights. Big thanks to LSP team Petre Breazu, Nina Haket & Marco Fioratti for work on publication & promotion.

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Dr Leanne Henderson @leannehenderson.bsky.social · Jul 9

Across the collection, evidence points to potential for stronger partnerships in developing creative & innovative solutions to strengthen the languages pipeline. Inclusion also features strongly. Ultimately, policy & practice must work to benefit the full diversity of language learners & speakers.

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Dr Leanne Henderson @leannehenderson.bsky.social · Jul 9

These pieces showcase vibrancy in research & scholarship on languages, demonstrate dedication to innovative practice in languages education, & draw out explicit learning for policy or practice to enhance support for the diversity of languages taught, learnt and used across the UK at all levels.

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Dr Leanne Henderson @leannehenderson.bsky.social · Jul 9

At LSP, we value the chance to learn from the expertise & insights of excellent researchers & practitioners who contributed to this special collection. Their work enables us to identify & understand areas of best practice & persistent challenges with Languages Education in the UK. www.lspjournal.com

LANGUAGES, SOCIETY AND POLICY - HOME | LSP

Languages, Society and Policy

www.lspjournal.com

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wendya-b.bsky.social @wendya-b.bsky.social · Jul 9

In our final LSP opinion piece, Biddle and Andrews present inspiring examples of close-to-practice research. The entire collection underlines the vital role of collaboration. Let's all work together! @charlesforsdick
www.lspjournal.com/post/how-can...

How can we move from cold spots to hot spots? Learning from current practices which nurture languages education in the four nations of the United Kingdom

Jo Biddle and Jane Andrews | 9th July 2025 | Opinion PieceIn this opinion piece, Jo Biddle and Jane Andrews consider a small set of examples of close-to-practice research from the four nations of the ...

www.lspjournal.com

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Languages, Society and Policy @lspjournal.bsky.social · Jul 9

✨ The Languages in UK Education special issue is now complete! Many thanks to our guest editors @wendya-b.bsky.social & @cforsdick.bsky.social for compiling this important collection, and to every contributor for sharing bold ideas to shape language education policy.
🔗 www.lspjournal.com

LANGUAGES, SOCIETY AND POLICY - HOME | LSP

Languages, Society and Policy

www.lspjournal.com

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Languages, Society and Policy @lspjournal.bsky.social · Jul 9

How can we turn the UK’s 'cold spots' for language learning into 'hot spots?' 🔥📚
J. Biddle & J. Andrews highlight practical grassroots projects across the UK that show what works: @wendya-b.bsky.social @cforsdick.bsky.social www.lspjournal.com/post/how-can...

How can we move from cold spots to hot spots? Learning from current practices which nurture languages education in the four nations of the United Kingdom

Jo Biddle and Jane Andrews | 9th July 2025 | Opinion PieceIn this opinion piece, Jo Biddle and Jane Andrews consider a small set of examples of close-to-practice research from the four nations of the ...

www.lspjournal.com

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Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies @ilcs.bsky.social · Jul 1

“We’re at real risk of language education being accessible only to young people in the most affluent schools in England. This would be a disaster, shutting many young people out of essential education” : @cforsdick.bsky.social

Fewer pupils in less affluent English schools taking languages, survey finds

Less than half taking foreign languages GCSEs compared with 69% in most prosperous state schools

www.theguardian.com

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Languages, Society and Policy @lspjournal.bsky.social · Jun 25

What does it really mean to think like a linguist?
Charlotte Ryland argues it's time to move beyond grammar drills and embrace creativity, culture, and collaboration in language education. 🔗 www.lspjournal.com/post/think-l...
✍️ Collection Edited by @wendya-b.bsky.social & @cforsdick.bsky.social

Think Like a Linguist: Community and collaboration for a new languages curriculum

In this article, Charlotte Ryland reflects on how the learning from creative translation and languages advocacy projects can feed into languages curriculum reform. By focusing in particular on the lin...

www.lspjournal.com

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Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies @ilcs.bsky.social · Jun 24

Curriculum and Assessment Review: ILCS, ALL and UCFL issue a statement.

'The development of a sustainable model for language provision across the whole of the educational sector is of the highest concern to all members of the subject community'

Read the statement:

ilcs.sas.ac.uk/research-pol...

Curriculum and Assessment Review

The interim report of the Curriculum and Assessment Review (March 2025) classified 'Languages' as requiring Category 1 intervention.

ilcs.sas.ac.uk

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