Advice and guidance for languages teachers
This page is aimed at secondary languages teachers, heads of department or those with responsibility for an individual language within their school. It aims to support your own knowledge and practice and to help you to develop colleagues in your department.
Programmes of Study and Assessment Guidance
1KS3
GCSE
GCSE Subject Content Modern Foreign Languages
GCSE Subject Content Ancient Languages
GCSE Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for Modern Foreign Languages
GCSE Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for Ancient Languages
CEFR (Common European Framework Reference)
AS and A-level
AS and A-level Subject Content Modern Foreign Languages
AS and A-level Subject Criteria for Modern Foreign Languages
AS and A-level Subject Content Ancient Languages
AS and A-level Subject Criteria for Ancient Languages
Information to inform curriculum planning
Ofsted's Key Stage 3 - the wasted years?
Ofsted survey report published in September 2015 investigating whether Key Stage 3 is providing pupils with sufficient breadth and challenge.
Please click here for full details.
Implementing the English Baccalaureate (EBacc)
The EBacc comprises the core academic subjects that the vast majority of young people should have the opportunity to study to age 16. To enter the EBacc, pupils must take up to eight GCSEs across five subject ‘pillars’.
- A list of qualifications that count towards the EBacc can be viewed here
- Government consultation response, published July 2017.
Teaching Schools Council Modern Languages Pedagogy Review
- Read A review of modern foreign languages teaching practice in Key Stage 3 and 4 (published by the Teaching Schools Council 2016)
- Read a follow-up piece What is the future for languages? by Ian Bauckham, leader of the TSC review of MFL pedagogy here.
Language Trends Survey
The annual Language Trends report is a survey of primary and secondary schools in England, designed to gather information about the current situation for language teaching and learning. Explore the Language Trends 2022.
Teacher and ITT mentor standards
Teacher's Standards (DfE)
- Teachers’ Standards Guidance for school leaders, school staff and governing bodies
July 2011 (introduction updated June 2013) - Teachers' Standards
- Teachers' Standards - How should they be used?
National Standards for school-based initial teacher training (ITT) mentors
A key recommendation in the 2015 Carter Review was for a set of national standards to be developed to help bring greater coherence and consistency to the school-based mentoring arrangements for trainee teachers. In response, the Government commissioned the Teaching Schools Council to develop standards for school-based ITT mentors, with the key aim of helping to promote the importance of the role and create a better shared understanding of the characteristics of effective mentoring across the ITT sector. Read the standards here.
Reports on language teaching and learning and global skills
ALL Teacher Briefings
Please also explore a range of reports contained within ALL Teacher Briefings 7, 10 and 12
Keeping abreast of language sector developments
Interesting schemes to engage with
Access free training modules and wikis for your own professional development and to train members of your department
Themed training modules for KS2/KS3 teachers
Themed wikis for KS2/3 teachers
View ALL's KS2 Co-ordinator's Handbook
View ALL's KS2-3 Transition Toolkit
ALL Member benefits for secondary teachers
ALL's local networks
ALL's networks in local areas offer CPD events and informal opportunities to share ideas, resources and good practice
ALL's sector networks
ALL's professional sector networks for your to engage with
Join the Secondary Special Interest Group
As an ALL member, why not engage with the Secondary Special Interest Group?
Invest in CPD by attending Language World
Language World is the Association for Language Learning's flagship annual conference.
Language World offers delegates a single or two day learning and networking experience unlike any other in the country. The programme consists of key notes, major talks and workshop sessions, offering delegates an opportunity through a broad programme, the opportunity to truly tailor their conference to meet their own professional needs or those of a languages department.
Additionally it offers a fantastic exhibition with adequate time for delegates built into the programme to explore what's new on the market, new opportunities to develop and practice a language and build intercultural awareness to benefit their learners, as well as boost and refresh their own skills.
Further information will be added in September 2019.