A review of progress in implementing the 1+2 languages policy

A review of the implementation of the 1+2 strategy shows the languages on offer in mainstream schools remain dominated almost entirely by a narrow range of European languages; there are no established examples in primary schools of teaching community languages such as Polish, Urdu and Arabic.

Scottish Government have made an ambitious languages commitment “to introduce a norm for language learning based on the European Union 1+2 model – that we will create the conditions in which every child will learn two languages in addition to their mother tongue.” The aim is to create a new model of language acquisition for Scotland over the course of two Parliaments.

Scottish Government is working in partnership with local authorities and stakeholders to enable learning of the first additional language to start from Primary One, with a second additional language to be offered by all schools from Primary Five. This is a long term and very ambitious policy. The aim is to make Scotland as successful as possible, with language capability as an important part of this success. This means that it is important that young people are attracted to learning languages, and that they become confident and competent linguists, well equipped with the skills and capacities needed globally and in the 21st century marketplace.

A Languages Working Group was set up in September 2011 to consider strategic implications for longer term delivery of the commitment and to report to Ministers. The Group’s report and recommendations, Language Learning in Scotland: A 1+2 Approach, were published on 17 May 2012.

Scottish Ministers have welcomed the Language Learning in Scotland: A 1+2 Approach report and its 35 recommendations, either in full or in part, while recognising that taking these forward will require discussion, collaboration and partnership with local authorities, schools, parents and other key stakeholders. Education Scotland are supporting the implementation of this policy and support is also offered by Scotland’s National Centre for Languages (SCILT) which complements the work of Education Scotland.

As a result of the report, a Languages Strategic Implementation Group was set up in May 2013 to oversee and facilitate the implementation of the recommendations.

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