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'We're not teaching them to order baguettes' - languages enjoy a renaissance in schools
A Cardiff University-led mentoring scheme aims to revive language uptake in Welsh schools by focusing on culture and identity rather than grammar and vocabulary. The program has expanded, with measurable increases in uptake and broader school participation, including a rise in Mandarin interest among students.
Why It Matters
The approach shifts language learning from a traditional, textbook model to a culture-centric framework, contributing to higher GCSE uptake and broader language opportunities for students.
Timeline
9 Events
Future outlook cited in article
April 18, 2026
Gloomy predictions for the numbers studying languages by 2030 were noted in the article as a caveat to ongoing gains.
Duke of Edinburgh: Mandarin inclusion
April 18, 2026
Hugo decided to include Mandarin as part of his Duke of Edinburgh award after engaging with the mentoring programme.
Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi GCSE language uptake rises
April 18, 2026
At Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi, more than 40% of Victoria Rowe's pupils opted to take a language at GCSE, up from about 23% previously.
Expansion to 111 schools
2026
The scheme has expanded to 111 schools.
Record entries in language study (2025)
2025
There were 4,292 entries in language study in 2025, according to the British Council.
Further rise in uptake: 9.6% (2024-25)
2024
A further 9.6% rise in uptake occurred in the 2024-25 academic year.
Mentoring yields first notable rise: 3.6% (2023-24)
2023
MFL mentoring figures showed a 3.6% rise in uptake for the 2023-24 academic year.
Language uptake declines to near-halving by 2021
2021
Language uptake in Wales almost halved between 2015 and 2021, fueling gloomy predictions for 2030.
Scheme begins in 15 schools with language mentoring
2015
The modern foreign languages mentoring scheme started in 15 schools.