[EDLING:2117] UK: Tories to bring back compulsory language classes

[Francis M Hult]

Via lgpolicy...

> Tories to bring back compulsory language classes
> 
> Alexandra Smith
> Tuesday December 5, 2006
> 
> EducationGuardian.co.uk
> 
> The Conservative leader, David Cameron, today signalled a back-to-basics
> approach to education as the party promised to increase the use of setting
> classes by ability and a return to compulsory language lessons. At the
> launch of his first policy report, the Tory leader said too many pupils
> were being failed in the basics of English, maths, science, history and
> foreign languages. Mr Cameron stopped short of providing detailed policy
> pledges, but said the Tories would consider making history and languages
> compulsory to the age of 16. The government has been blamed for a decline
> in the number of pupils studying modern foreign languages since
> introducing its controversial policy of allowing 14-year-olds to drop the
> subject in 2004.
> 
> However, the education secretary, Alan Johnson, has ordered a review into
> the policy, due before Christmas, after he said the government was
> "wondering" whether it had made the right decision when it scrapped
> compulsory language classes. Mr Cameron also backed greater use of
> setting, arguing that teaching pupils in groups according to their
> abilities would help stretch the brightest and support the lowest
> achievers. A review of the curriculum will shift the focus to the
> fundamentals of maths and science, key historical events and great works
> of literature, he said. Mr Cameron said: "Our focus is rolling up the
> sleeves and getting stuck into what needs to be fixed in every school in
> every part of the country, to get those basics right."
> 
> EducationGuardian.co.uk  Guardian News and Media Limited 2006
> 
> http://education.guardian.co.uk/policy/story/0,,1964614,00.html