There are no foreign language assistants working in Scottish state schools this academic year, Tes Scotland can reveal.
While a small number of modern language assistants (MLAs) remain working in Scottish schools, all are operating in the independent sector.
Once a mainstay of many schools’ language-teaching offerings, MLAs appear to have been sacrificed en masse in the midst of councils’ budget crises and a decline in interest in languages in Scottish schools.
Data obtained from the British Council Scotland, which arranges for MLAs to work in schools, shows that in 2023-24, the total number employed in Scotland is 33. None is in a state school.
This was also the case in 2022-23. The last time any MLAs were hosted by local authorities was in 2021-22, when 10 were employed to work in state schools.
A worrying decline in MLAs was first reported by Tes Scotland several years ago. At the start of the 2018-19 academic year, however, there were still 61 MLAs, 27 of them based in independent schools. At the time, this was the lowest figure since comparable records began in 2003, but 15 out of 32 local authorities still had MLAs.
As recently as 2016-17, there were 146 MLAs in Scotland, but numbers fell sharply to 80 in 2017-18 and there were concerns that this might be related to the 2016 vote to leave the EU.
Concerns about a dearth of MLAs in Scottish state schools were highlighted last week on X (formerly Twitter) by Dr Fiona Barclay, a senior University of Stirling lecturer who, in March, co-wrote an article for Tes Scotland setting out concerns that the “ecosystem of languages” in Scottish education was “at risk of collapse”.
‘Trips and exchanges beyond the reach of many schools’
This week, in relation to MLAs, she told Tes Scotland: “With trips and exchanges now beyond the reach of many schools, modern language assistants are more important than ever in giving learners exposure to authentic language learning.
“Native speakers make the learning experience real for pupils; often they are not much older than the learners so they bring language and culture to life and make it relevant. For teachers, language assistants are an extra resource, offering a chance to refresh their language skills and reconnect with life and current affairs overseas.”
Graham Hutton, general secretary of School Leaders Scotland and a former teacher of German, described the disappearance of MLAs from state schools as a “sad loss”.
“It can only discourage young people from learning a language, as they have no first-hand experience, often, of that language being spoken, except by the teacher, who - though a gifted linguist - is usually not a native speaker of the language,” he said.
Long-term demise of languages in Scotland
Mr Hutton added: “Learning a language is often something we learn through experience by replicating the accents and dialects we hear. If we have no face-to-face exposure to the languages, they lose their appeal.
“The demise of MLAs in schools started some 20 years ago and unfortunately reflects, in many ways, the very sad and depressing demise and standing of foreign languages in the curriculum across Scotland.”
The British Council organises the modern language assistants programme, but it does not provide funding for the school placements - salaries and associated costs are picked up by schools or local authorities. MLAs are paid varying rates around the UK and work 12 to 18 hours a week.
Harish Lokhun, head of education at the British Council Scotland, said: “The number of language assistants in Scotland has seen a steady decrease for several years. In 2023-24, the total number of British Council language assistants employed in Scotland is 33, with no assistants in local authority schools. In the 2019-2020 year there were 54 language assistants, with 29 hosted through local authorities.”
Benefits for attainment and cultural awareness
Mr Lokhun added: “Our research at the British Council points strongly to the benefits of having a language assistant for attainment and building cultural awareness. From our research into language learning and teaching trends across the UK, we know that placements in primary schools can be a positive step for language learning motivation and attainment.”
He also noted that “Scotland punches above its weight in the number of outgoing language assistants” to other countries, with “over 300 people from Scotland currently supporting the teaching of English across the world, generating global connections through this international opportunity”.
Mr Lokhun stressed that it was not too late for Scottish schools to apply for a language assistant in 2024-25.
“We continue to work closely with stakeholders such as local authorities and schools to explore viable hosting options,” he said. “These include helping facilitate resource sharing among schools or offering shorter placement opportunities.”
Applications for schools to employ a language assistant are currently open, closing at the end of April.
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