Topic: Languages and education in the United Kingdom

Languages and education in the United Kingdom - Statistics & Facts

There is no denying that the United Kingdom is a linguistically diverse nation, with languages from all over the globe spoken within its borders. However, English native speakers are often criticized, as most cannot speak another language. Education is often held to blame as the root of the problem, as not enough pupils are encouraged to take a language subject at school.

Number of French language exam entries at A level in England in 2017
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Number of French language exam entries at A level in Northern Ireland in 2017
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Number of French language exam entries in universities in Scotland in 2015
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Current statistics on this topic

Education Level & Skills

A levels: European language learners in England in 2019

Education Level & Skills

Wales: number of secondary students with lessons in Welsh 2011-2018

Education Level & Skills

Gaelic language learners in Scotland at Higher Level, 2011-2018

Foreign languages at A level

Number of A Level entries in foreign languages in the UK 2022-2025
Number of A Level entries in foreign languages in the UK 2022-2025
Number of A Level exam entries in foreign languages in the United Kingdom in 2022 and 2025, by language
England: European language candidates at A level from 2011-2019
England: European language candidates at A level from 2011-2019
European language exam entries at A level in England from 2011 to 2019, by subject
European language learners in Scotland at Higher Level, 2011-2018
European language learners in Scotland at Higher Level, 2011-2018
Share of all students that earned A to C grades for a European language Higher exam in Scotland from 2011 to 2018
Scotland: Higher European language entries 2009-2018
Scotland: Higher European language entries 2009-2018
European language exam entries at Higher Level in Scotland 2009 to 2018, by subject
A levels: European language learners in Wales from 2011 to 2019
A levels: European language learners in Wales from 2011 to 2019
Percentage of all candidates taking a European language at A level in Wales from 2011 to 2019, by subject*
Wales: European language candidates at A level from 2011 to 2019
Wales: European language candidates at A level from 2011 to 2019
European language exam entries at A level in Wales from 2011 to 2019, by subject
A levels: European language learners in Northern Ireland from 2011-2019
A levels: European language learners in Northern Ireland from 2011-2019
Percentage of all candidates taking a European language A level exam in Northern Ireland from 2011 to 2019, by subject*
Northern Ireland: European language candidates at A level from 2011-2019
Northern Ireland: European language candidates at A level from 2011-2019
European language exam entries at A level in Northern Ireland from 2011 to 2019, by subject

UK regional languages in schools

Number of students taught using the Gaelic language Scotland 2018-2023
Number of students taught using the Gaelic language Scotland 2018-2023
Number of primary and high school students taught using the Gaelic language in Scotland from 2018 to 2023
Scotland: total secondary pupils having lessons in Gaelic in 2017
Scotland: total secondary pupils having lessons in Gaelic in 2017
Number of secondary school pupils receiving lessons in Gaelic in publicly funded schools in Scotland in 2017
Gaelic language learners in Scotland at Higher Level, 2011-2018
Gaelic language learners in Scotland at Higher Level, 2011-2018
Total number of all students entered for the Gaelic (Learners) Higher exams in Scotland from 2011 to 2018
Number of students taught using the Welsh language Wales 2020-2025
Number of students taught using the Welsh language Wales 2020-2025
Number of students taught primarily using the Welsh language in Wales from 2020 to 2025
Wales: number of secondary students with lessons in Welsh 2011-2018
Wales: number of secondary students with lessons in Welsh 2011-2018
Number of secondary school students taught using the Welsh language in Wales from 2011 to 2018
A levels: Welsh language learners in Wales from 2011-2019
A levels: Welsh language learners in Wales from 2011-2019
Percentage of all candidates taking Welsh as a sat A level in Wales from 2011 to 2019*
Number of A Level entries in Welsh in Wales 2011-2024
Number of A Level entries in Welsh in Wales 2011-2024
Number of A Level exam entries in Welsh in Wales from 2011 to 2024
Number of students taught using the Irish language Northern Ireland 2018-2025
Number of students taught using the Irish language Northern Ireland 2018-2025
Number of school students taught using the Irish language in Northern Ireland from 2018/19 to 2024/25
Northern Ireland: share of secondary students with lessons in Irish 2001-2017
Northern Ireland: share of secondary students with lessons in Irish 2001-2017
Share of secondary school students taught using the Irish language in Northern Ireland from 2001/2002 to 2016/2017*
A levels: Irish language learners in Northern Ireland from 2011-2019
A levels: Irish language learners in Northern Ireland from 2011-2019
Percentage of all candidates taking Irish language at A level in Northern Ireland from 2011 to 2019*
A levels: Irish language learners in Northern Ireland from 2011-2019
A levels: Irish language learners in Northern Ireland from 2011-2019
Candidates taking Irish language at A level in Northern Ireland from 2011 to 2019

Foreign languages at A level in England

England: A level European language candidates in 2019
England: A level European language candidates in 2019
European language exam entries at A level in England in 2019, by subject
England: A level French statistics trend 2011-2019
England: A level French statistics trend 2011-2019
French language exam entries at A level in England from 2011 to 2019
England: A level German statistics trend 2011-2019
England: A level German statistics trend 2011-2019
German language exam entries at A level in England from 2011 to 2019
England: A level Spanish statistics trend 2011-2019
England: A level Spanish statistics trend 2011-2019
Spanish language exam entries at A level in England from 2011 to 2019
A levels: European language learners in England in 2019
A levels: European language learners in England in 2019
Percentage of all candidates taking a European language A level exam in England in 2019, by subject*

Foreign languages at A level in Scotland

French language learners in Scotland at Higher Level, 2011-2018
French language learners in Scotland at Higher Level, 2011-2018
Percentage of all students who entered for the French Higher exams in Scotland from 2011 to 2018*
German language learners in Scotland at Higher Level, 2011-2018
German language learners in Scotland at Higher Level, 2011-2018
Percentage of all students who entered for the German Higher exams in Scotland from 2011 to 2018*
Spanish language learners in Scotland at Higher Level, 2011-2018
Spanish language learners in Scotland at Higher Level, 2011-2018
Number of all students who entered for the Spanish Higher exams in Scotland from 2011 to 2018
Italian language learners in Scotland at Higher Level, 2011-2018
Italian language learners in Scotland at Higher Level, 2011-2018
Number of all students who entered for the Italian language Higher exams in Scotland from 2011 to 2018

Foreign languages at A level in Wales

Wales: A level European language candidates in 2019
Wales: A level European language candidates in 2019
European language exam entries at A level in Wales in 2019, by subject*
French: A level candidates in Wales from 2011-2019
French: A level candidates in Wales from 2011-2019
French language exam entries at A level in Wales from 2011 to 2019
German: A level candidates in Wales from 2011-2019
German: A level candidates in Wales from 2011-2019
German language exam entries at A level in Wales from 2011 to 2019
Spanish: A level candidates in Wales from 2011-2019
Spanish: A level candidates in Wales from 2011-2019
Spanish language exam entries at A level in Wales from 2011 to 2019
A levels: European language learners in Wales in 2019
A levels: European language learners in Wales in 2019
Percentage of all candidates taking a European language at A level in Wales in 2019, by subject

Foreign languages at A level in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland: European language candidates at A level in 2019
Northern Ireland: European language candidates at A level in 2019
European language exam entries at A level in Northern Ireland in 2019, by subject
Northern Ireland: French language candidates at A level from 2011-2019
Northern Ireland: French language candidates at A level from 2011-2019
French exam entries at A level in Northern Ireland from 2011 to 2019
Northern Ireland: German language candidates at A level from 2011-2019
Northern Ireland: German language candidates at A level from 2011-2019
German exam entries at A level in Northern Ireland from 2011 to 2019
Northern Ireland: Spanish language candidates at A level from 2011-2019
Northern Ireland: Spanish language candidates at A level from 2011-2019
Spanish exam entries at A level in Northern Ireland from 2011 to 2019
A levels: European language learners in Northern Ireland from 2011-2019
A levels: European language learners in Northern Ireland from 2011-2019
Percentage of all candidates taking a European language A level exam in Northern Ireland from 2011 to 2019, by subject*

Sign language in schools

England: languages used by deaf pupils in schools in 2016/2017
England: languages used by deaf pupils in schools in 2016/2017
Proportion of deaf school children in England in 2016/2017, by main language*
Scotland: languages used by deaf pupils in schools in 2014/15
Scotland: languages used by deaf pupils in schools in 2014/15
Proportion of deaf school children in Scotland in 2014/2015, by main language*
Wales: languages used by deaf pupils in schools in 2016/17
Wales: languages used by deaf pupils in schools in 2016/17
Proportion of deaf school children in Wales in 2016/2017, by main language*
Northern Ireland: languages used by deaf pupils in schools in 2014/15
Northern Ireland: languages used by deaf pupils in schools in 2014/15
Proportion of deaf school children in Northern Ireland in 2014/2015, by main language

English as an Additional Language (EAL) pupils in the United Kingdom

Percentage of pupils whose first language is not English in England 2025, by region
Percentage of pupils whose first language is not English in England 2025, by region
Percentage of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English in England in 2024/25, by region
Scotland: EAL students at school in 2017 by English ability
Scotland: EAL students at school in 2017 by English ability
Number of students taking 'English as an Additional Language' (EAL) in publicly funded schools in Scotland in 2017, by English proficiency
Non-English main home languages in Scottish schools 2023
Non-English main home languages in Scottish schools 2023
Number of students with a non-English main home language in Scottish schools in 2023, by language
Wales: EAL pupils in 2017 by region
Wales: EAL pupils in 2017 by region
Number of all pupils with English as an additional language in Wales in 2017, by region
Most common non-English languages spoken in Welsh schools in 2020
Most common non-English languages spoken in Welsh schools in 2020
Non-English main home languages ranked by number of speakers in Welsh schools in 2020
Northern Ireland: EAL students at primary school 2011-2017
Northern Ireland: EAL students at primary school 2011-2017
Percentage of primary school students with English as an additional language in Northern Ireland 2011/2012 to 2016/2017*
Northern Ireland: EAL students at secondary school 2011-2017
Northern Ireland: EAL students at secondary school 2011-2017
Percentage of secondary school students with English as an additional language in Northern Ireland 2011/12 to 2016/17*

Number of French language exam entries at A level in England in 2017
*****

Number of French language exam entries at A level in Northern Ireland in 2017
***

Number of French language exam entries in universities in Scotland in 2015
*****

Key figures

The most important key figures provide you with a compact summary of the topic of "Languages and education in the United Kingdom" and take you straight to the corresponding statistics.

- Number of German language exam entries at Higher level in Scotland in 2015
- ***
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Detailed statistics
Scotland: Higher German language exam entries 2009-2018
- Percentage of all students who entered for German Higher exams in Scotland in 2017
- ****%
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Detailed statistics
German language learners in Scotland at Higher Level, 2011-2018
- Percentage of all candidates taking German language at A level in Northern Ireland
- ***%
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Detailed statistics
A levels: German language learners in Northern Ireland from 2009 to 2013
- Percentage of all students taking German language at A level in England in 2017
- ***%
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Detailed statistics
A levels: German language learners in England from 2011 to 2019

- Percentage of all candidates taking Spanish at A level in Northern Ireland in 2013
- *%
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Detailed statistics
A levels: Spanish language learners in Northern Ireland from 2009 to 2013
- Number of students who entered the Spanish Higher exams in Scotland in 2017
- *****
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Detailed statistics
Spanish language learners in Scotland at Higher Level, 2011-2018
- Number of Spanish exam entries at A level in Northern Ireland in 2016/2017
- ***
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Detailed statistics
Northern Ireland: Spanish language candidates at A level from 2011-2019
- Number of A level Spanish language exam entries in Wales in 2016/2017
- ***
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Detailed statistics
Spanish: A level candidates in Wales from 2011-2019

- Number of school students in Wales taught in Welsh
- 96,244
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Detailed statistics
Number of students taught using the Welsh language Wales 2020-2025
- Number of secondary school students in Wales taught in Welsh in 2017
- ******
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Detailed statistics
Wales: number of secondary students with lessons in Welsh 2011-2018
- Number of A level Welsh language exam entries in Wales
- ***
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Detailed statistics
Number of A Level entries in Welsh in Wales 2011-2024

- Percentage of people in Eilean Siar with knowledege of Gaelic
- ****%
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Detailed statistics
Percentage of people in Scotland who can speak Gaelic by region 2011
- Total number of all students entered for the Gaelic (Learners) Higher exams in Scotland in 2017
- **
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Detailed statistics
Gaelic language learners in Scotland at Higher Level, 2011-2018
- Number of school pupils receiving lessons in Gaelic in Scotland in 2022
- 5,110
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Detailed statistics
Number of students taught using the Gaelic language Scotland 2018-2023
- Number of secondary school pupils receiving Gaelic learners classes in publicly funded schools in Scotland in 2016
- 2,473
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Detailed statistics
Scotland: total secondary pupils having lessons in Gaelic in 2017
- Share of Scottish population that can speak Gaelic
- 1.7%
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Detailed statistics
Number and percentage of people in Scotland who can speak Gaelic 2001-2011

- Share of deaf students using British Sign Language in an educational setting in England in 2017
- 8%
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Detailed statistics
United Kingdom: languages used by deaf students in schools in 2017, by region
- Share of deaf school children that use spoken English together with signed support in England in 2014/2015,
- 5%
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Detailed statistics
England: languages used by deaf pupils in schools in 2016/2017
- Proportion of deaf school children in Scotland that use spoken English in 2014/2015
- 89%
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Detailed statistics
Scotland: languages used by deaf pupils in schools in 2014/15

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Languages and education in the United Kingdom - Statistics & Facts

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