AQW 51234/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 08/09/2026
Answered On Date: 02/10/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any international evidence that has informed the decision to move towards developing beginner fluency in a single core modern language.

Answer:

The draft Modern Languages framework sets out the knowledge, skills and progression that pupils should acquire in a modern language. Its emphasis on establishing a secure foundation in a modern language is intended to ensure that pupils develop core knowledge of phonics, vocabulary and grammar and can use this knowledge to communicate with increasing confidence and independence.

International research on language learning highlights the importance of sustained exposure, repeated practice and the cumulative acquisition of knowledge over time. Research also indicates that learners benefit from sufficient time to consolidate vocabulary, phonics and grammar and apply them in meaningful communication. The framework has also been informed by research on vocabulary learning, including evidence that frequency-informed vocabulary can support progression. The aim is therefore to ensure that all pupils establish a secure foundation in at least one modern language, providing a basis for further study and continued language learning.

The proposed approach does not prevent schools from offering more than one language at Key Stage 3. The statutory minimum entitlement remains unchanged, and schools continue to have flexibility to provide additional language learning. The framework is intended to provide greater clarity regarding what pupils should learn while establishing a minimum entitlement for all pupils.