Pupils forced to switch GCSE courses as schools chase Ebacc results

Schools have put in place plans to restrict pupils' GCSE choices as a direct result of the introduction of the new benchmark, a seminar has heard

The Guardianhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Teaching English overseas: Graduates with a foreign language have a huge edge in the job market

There are pros and cons about being a native speaker of English. One advantage, of course, is the ease with which English speakers can move around the world, on holiday or on business. But a disadvantage is that it breeds laziness. Far too many of us Brits, either consciously or unconsciously, don't really bother with learning a foreign language.

The Independent

English language schools win court battle over visas

English language schools have won a High Court battle over visa restrictions which they say are absurd and damaging to their businesses.

They took the action over new regulations which say that students entering the UK to study must have a good standard of English.

BBC website

IRELAND: pupils with learning difficulties studying languages other than Irish

More than half of the students granted an exemption from studying Irish for the Leaving Certificate due to a learning difficulty over the last three years have sat or intend to sit other European language exams such as French or German, data from the Department of Education shows.

Provisional figures of this year’s crop of Leaving Certificate students show 2,297 students will not sit the Irish exam due to an exemption, but 1,326 of those intend to sit an exam in another European language.

Irish Times

English language schools fear new visa rules

English language school sector has been put at risk by proposals to tighten visa rules, originally aimed at closing bogus colleges, that many schools fear will put them out of business.

The Guardian