1+2 languages policy: findings from the 2023 survey of local authorities

3. Language learning in primary schools

3.1 L2 provision

We asked local authorities how many of their primary schools were providing an L2 entitlement. We defined this as follows:

• By full we mean an L2 is taught continuously from P1 to P7.
• By partial we mean an L2 is not taught continuously from P1 to P7.
• By none we mean an L2 is not taught at all from P1 to P7.

The responses received show that approx. 99% of primary schools were providing either a full or partial L2 entitlement during 2022-23 compared to 98% in 2021. This breaks down as follows:

L2 entitlement

Full 68%

Partial 31%

None 1%

By comparison, the 2020-21 survey showed that approx. 69% of primary schools were providing a full entitlement and 29% a partial entitlement. This shows a stable picture of language learning implementation in the primary BGE even though schools have not yet reached 100% of full implementation according to the terms of the policy.

The most taught L2 language continued to be French, being provided by approx. 82% of primary schools that provided an entitlement (86% in 2020-21).

Spanish and Gaelic (Learners) remained the second and third most taught languages, being provided by 14% and 5% of schools respectively (a small increase from 10% and 3% in 2020-21). German was taught by 2% of schools (1.4% in 2020-21). Italian is taught by less than 1% of the schools, while Urdu, Mandarin and Cantonese do not appear to be taught as L2 in the primary sector.

N.b. This data contains multiple counting of some schools, e.g. a school may offer both French and Spanish as L2 languages for different groups of pupils. Out of 1,565 schools.

3.2 L3 provision

We asked local authorities how many of their primary schools were providing an L3 entitlement. We defined this as follows:

• That, in addition to the L2, one or more languages are taught as a planned part of the curriculum in P5, in P6 and in P7.

The responses received show that approx. 76% of primary schools were providing an L3 entitlement during 2022-23 showing progress from 64% in 2020-21.

L3 entitlement

Yes 76%

No 24%

N.b. This data may contain multiple counting of some schools, e.g. a school may offer both French and Spanish as L3 languages for different year groups. Out of 1,565 schools

The most taught L3 language continued to be Spanish, being taught by 46% of primary schools that provided an entitlement.

The results show that the picture of L3 languages offered by primary schools is evolving. After Spanish, the five most popular languages are: French (193), Scots (184), BSL (179), German (131) and Chinese languages (109).

BSL and Scots in particular showed an increase in popularity from 113 schools and 100 respectively in 2020-21. This increase may be due in part to a difference in methodology: the 2022-23 survey introduced BSL and Scots in the list choices rather than being reported as part of the ‘Other’ category.

A wide range of other L3s are offered by primary schools although in very small numbers. This includes communication systems such as Makaton.

n.b. Out of 1,567 schools