A Critical Examination of the Beliefs about Learning a Foreign Language at Primary School

1.6.1.1 OveralIProvision

Overall provision is reported by CILT as varied, patchy and generally
uncoordinated (CILT, 1995: 3-5). One unidentified local authority adviser
commented that 'if there are n primary schools offering a foreign language,
there are n different ways in which it is organised' (CILT, 1995: 8). Out of a total
of 8808 primary schools in 53 LEAs, 1919 were reported as providing some
foreign language teaching, representing 21.8% of the primary schools in the
sample. Early foreign language provision within a Local Education Authority
ranged from 1.9% to 86% of schools.

Only 35 LEAs responded to a question on pupil numbers. As a number of LEAs
simply reported 'a global picture', figures are based on estimates only but from
these responses CILT extrapolated a total number of around 305,000 children
in primary schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland receiving 'some sort
of provision' in a foreign language. Out of a total school population of around
4.5 million primary school children this represents between five and six per cent.

1.6.1.2 LanguagesTaught

French is by far the most widely taught language, offered in 93.5 % of the
schools and taught 'over 26 times more' than any other language. The teaching
of German, Italian or Spanish is thinly spread amounting to a total of less than
10% between these languages.

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