The latest and final report from the DCSF- commissioned research on language learning at Key Stage 2 indicated that 92% of schools were providing primary languages within class time in 2008. This has risen from 85% indicated in the 2007 survey findings and 70% in the 2006 survey.

69% of schools were providing languages for all year groups in 2008, compared to 54% in 2007 and 34% in 2006. The proportion of schools not teaching languages in class time had declined considerably, from 29% in 2006 to 8% in 2008. The majority of schools teaching languages felt that they would be ready to meet the requirement for statutory language teaching in KS2 by 2011.

Data source:

• Primary modern foreign languages: survey of national implementation of full entitlement to language learning at Key Stage 2 ( NFER , commissioned by DCSF)

Data collection method:

A sample of schools was drawn in 2006 and the first questionnaire was sent to 7,899 schools in October 2006 (a response rate of 48%). In subsequent years, the questionnaires were sent to the schools that had responded in 2006 (4,047 schools in 2007, with a response rate of 60%, and 3,535 in 2008, 67% response rate).

To address the possible resulting bias, a representative sub-sample of 500 schools was selected and data was collected from all the schools in this target group, for all three years of the survey.