- Entries for international languages at A-level have declined in Northern Ireland
- Spanish remains the most popular language at A-level, followed by Irish, French and German
- French and Spanish entries decline by 15% and 9% respectively compared to 2023
- Irish has shifted back to the second most popular language after dropping to third in 2023
- German is the fourth most popular language and bucks the trend with a 19% increase in entries compared to 2023
Jonathan Stewart, Director, British Council Northern Ireland, said:
“On behalf of British Council Northern Ireland, huge congratulations to all students across Northern Ireland receiving their A-level results today.
While there is a decrease in the uptake of most language A-levels, it’s encouraging to see that German is bucking this trend and we are committed to continue working with schools and educators to prioritise international language learning in Northern Ireland.
As stated in our most recent Language Trends 2023 report the advantages of language skills and intercultural understanding are more important than ever. Languages open doors for young people to connect with new people, places and cultures, enable us to collaborate internationally on global challenges and are vital for supporting Northern Ireland’s economic ambitions and relationships across the world.
The world is full of opportunities, and we wish all of the students receiving their results today the best of luck as they embark on the next chapter of their learning journey.”
-Ends-
Congratulations to students receiving their GCSE international language results on August 22, you can read our statement here.