Key Statistics
- There has been a decline in A-level entries for international languages since 2024 with total entries in French, German, and Spanish down by 20% from 443 to 352.
- French is still the most popular language at A-level, however; entries are down by over 30% at 169 versus 242 in 2024.
- A-level entries in Spanish show a slight rise of 1.4% to 141 from 139 in 2024
- German entries are also down 32% to 42 entries at A level from 62 in 2024
Ruth Cocks, Director, British Council Wales said:
"On behalf of British Council Wales, I'd like to extend congratulations to all students across Wales collecting their A-level results today. This represents the culmination of years of dedication and hard work by these remarkable young people, their schools and their communities. Today marks an exciting milestone as they prepare to embark on the next chapter of their journeys.
“However, this year's A-level entry figures for international languages tell a concerning story. While French is clearly still the most popular international language with 169 entries, we’ve seen a large drop of over 30% from 242 last year. German also continues a steady decline at A-level to just 42 entries in Wales.
“While we celebrate the small increase in Spanish entries this year, the decline in the other international languages is worrying. As our Language Trends Wales research has consistently shown over the past decade, we are facing critical challenges in international language provision across Wales and these latest figures reinforce our concerns about the development of future linguists.
“We remain committed to supporting language learning across Wales, working closely with the Welsh Government, schools and educators to champion the vital importance of international languages.
“The students collecting language qualifications today at A-level represent a vital group who understand that learning international languages is about far more than vocabulary and grammar. They're developing the intercultural skills and global mindset that Wales desperately needs to remain an outward-looking, internationally connected nation. Language skills and intercultural understanding have never been more relevant and mean enhanced trade relationships, better security, and deeper cultural connections across the globe.
"To every student receiving results today – especially for international languages, we wish you all the best as you embark on the next phase of our journey. Your language abilities are powerful tools that will unlock opportunities and connect you with the wider world”.
Ends