As part of our advocacy work at the Queen’s College Translation Exchange, we keep a close eye on how languages and languages reform are reported in the media. See below for our list of relevant articles, with the most recent first.
This is intended as a public resource to support wider advocacy efforts, and does not represent QTE’s own work or views.
- Simon Mark, National World, 11th November 2025
If we want children to learn languages then we must motivate them. [featuring comments by QTE Founding Director, Charlotte Ryland]
- Oliver Wright, Nicola Woolcock, The Times, 6th November 2025
Bridget Phillipson’s reforms ‘the death blow to learning languages’ - Pilita Clark, Financial Times, 2nd November 2025
Sí, oui, ja! You can learn a language late in life. - Mark Boobbyer, The Irish Times, 14th October 2025
UK students are abandoning languages and the arts. Let’s make sure it never happens here - Glynis Lloyd, Schools Week, 28th August 2025
How to unleash the power of multilingualism in school. - Sophia Smith Galer, The Guardian, 23rd August 2025
Time for a reality check: Britain cannot be a big global player unless we speak more languages - Cindy Yu, The Times, 18th August 2025
Learning languages helps us to unlock cultures - Juliette Claro, Schools Week, 12th August 2025
How the Francis review can solve England’s languages crisis - Laura Spinney, The Guardian, 27th March 2025
Swahili? Mandarin? The UK is increasingly multilingual – yet our politicians won’t talk about it
Curriculum and Assessment Review – responses
The Curriculum and Assessment Review commissioned by the Department for Education and led by Prof Becky Francis was published in full on the 5th November 2025. Several recommendations dealt with future Languages provisions. Below we have compiled official responses to the Review from various Languages organisations.
- National Consortium for Languages Education
https://ncle.ucl.ac.uk/a-new-narrative-of-opportunity-for-languages/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=NCLE_CAR_Response - The British Academy
https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/the-uks-national-academy-for-the-humanities-and-social-sciences-the-british-academy-responds-to-the-final-report-of-the-curriculum-and-assessment-review/ - Association for Language Learning
https://www.all-languages.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ALL-CAR-Press-Release.pdf - APPG for Languages
https://www.ciol.org.uk/appg-publications
https://x.com/APPGML/status/1986416606247796893 - House of Commons debate on the Curriculum and Assessment Review.
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2025-11-05a.927.0&s=modern+languages#g927.2