Jo WiggansJo Wiggans Aimhigher Greater ManchesterAimhigher Greater Manchester

Language applicants to HE: the Language applicants to HE: the statistical evidencestatistical evidence

HEFCE review of MFL Oct HEFCE review of MFL Oct 20092009

‘…‘…there has been insufficient ‘joined there has been insufficient ‘joined up’ thinking about the role of foreign up’ thinking about the role of foreign languages in the Uk over the past languages in the Uk over the past decade;...’ decade;...’

‘It is also a concern that, despite significant investment in languages, the languages community sees its future health as dependent on additional funding from external bodies, rather than on its own actions.’

Recommendation 6

‘In addition to continuing their existing outreach and widening participation activities, university Language Departments should actively engage with schools at primary and secondary level to help to develop a languages curriculum for the 21st century. This may include proactive engagement with, and support for, the Languages Ladder and/or the Languages Diploma’

In SchoolsIn Schools

Increased provision in schools but focus on diversified provision.

Overall decrease in numbers progressing from KS4 into A level languages – but increases in community languages.

92% schools offer languages at KS2

UCAS accepted 2009UCAS accepted 2009

Combs lang/humanities +4.8%

Combs European lang/lit/related +3.2%

Combs languages -7.2%

French +2.2%

Other European langs/lit/related -13.0%

Other non-European langs/related-51.2%

Numbers on non-European languages/studies too small to show trend data

NW languages studentsNW languages students Single subject within Single subject within languageslanguages

420420 35 %35 %

Joint subjects within Joint subjects within languageslanguages

280280 23%23%

Joint subjects Joint subjects including languages including languages and another subjectand another subject

510510 42%42%

Broad Subject Groups

'R' Subjects (French/ I talian/German/Spanish/Portuguese/Scandinavian/Russian & East

European/European studies & others

in European languages,

literature & related studies), 973

T7 Amercian studies, 24

'T' Subjects (Chinese/ J apanese/South Asian/Other

Asian/African/ Middle

Eastern/Australisian & other Eastern, Asiatic, African &

Australasian languages,

literature & related studies, 102

Q0 Broadly-based programmes within

languages, 114

Destination of North West First Degree Language Entrants 2007/ 08

Wales2%

West Midlands6%

North East5%

Scotland4%

South West4%

London and South East8%

East of England1%

East Midlands6%

North West46%

Yorkshire & the Humber

18%

Source: Aimhigher Greater Manchester HESA Dataset

Where do they go?

Comparative Age and Gender Profile

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Male Female Male Female

Languages Entrants All Entrants

20 and under 21 plus

Source: Aimhigher Greater Manchester HESA Dataset

Who are they?

Comparative Age and Gender Profile

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female

Languages Entrants 'R' Group Entrants 'T' Group Entrants* All Entrants

20 and under 21 plus

*Not including Amercian StudiesSource: Aimhigher Greater Manchester HESA Dataset

SEC Categories (Excluding SEC Unknowns)

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

LanguageEntrants

'R' Group 'T' Group notincludingAmercianstudies

All Entrants

NS- SEC 1- 3 NS- SEC 4- 8

Source: Aimhigher Greater Manchester HESA Dataset

Entrants by Aimhigher Targeting Criteria on Index of Deprivation*

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

LanaguagesEntrants

'R' Group ''T' Group* * All Entrants

Deprived area in Aimhigher targeting criteria Not deprived

*Within 40% most deprived on rank of index of derpivation nationally**Not including Amercian StudiesSource: Aimhigher Greater Manchester HESA Dataset

% from Minority Ethnic Groups (excluding Unknowns)

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Languages Entrants 'R' Group 'T' Group notincluding Amercian

Studies

All Entrants

Source: Aimhigher Greater Manchester HESA Dataset

% of Greater Manchester Borough Entrants Which Include a Language Subject

0.0%

0.5%

1.0%

1.5%

2.0%

2.5%

3.0%

3.5%

Stoc

kpor

t

North

Wes

t

Traff

ord

Salfo

rd

Tam

eside

Bury

Great

er M

anch

este

r

Wigan

Man

ches

ter

Bolto

n

Oldha

m

Roch

dale

Source: Aimhigher Greater Manchester HESA Dataset

A closer look – Greater Manchester languages students

Language Entrants All Entrants

Greater Manchester No Yes No Yes

Average language take-up (Bury, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford) 72% 28% 66% 34%

Below Average Language take-up (Bolton, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Wigan) 48% 52% 37% 63%

Total 62% 38% 50% 50%

HEFCE targeting criteria – IMD in most deprived 13,000?

Data sourcesData sources

Aimhigher Greater Manchester: Aimhigher Greater Manchester: www.aimhighergreatermanchester.comwww.aimhighergreatermanchester.com

Action on Access data service: Action on Access data service: www.actiononaccess.orgwww.actiononaccess.org

HEFCE Review of MFL report:HEFCE Review of MFL report:www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2009/09_41/www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2009/09_41/

Email me: j.wiggans@open.ac.ukEmail me: j.wiggans@open.ac.uk