In August 2025, the Higher Education Policy Institute published a report; The Language Crisis: Arresting decline, authored by classicist Megan Bowler.

You can read the HEPI report in full here

This report found that just 2.97 percent of A Levels taken in 2024 were for modern languages, Welsh and Irish, and classical languages, and that language learning faces huge challenges, with fewer pupils choosing the subjects, persistent difficulties in teacher recruitment, and undergraduate enrolments in ‘Language & Area Studies’ down 20 percent in five years. 

The Classical Association acknowledges the findings of this report and heartily supports the recommendations it set out that could reverse this decline. However, it’s not all bad news for classical languages and there are lots of positives to celebrate:

• Exam entry figures suggest that GCSE Latin is growing in the state sector, with non-independent settings now making up just shy of 45% of all entrants – and this figure has been increasing year on year.
• The success of community initiatives, such as the Intermediate Certificate in Classical Greek, enable access to classical languages to those who may not have access to it in the schools. Entries for the ICCG are increasing rapidly, with nearly half of these coming from state schools. 
• A seven-year longitudinal study conducted by Prof Arlene Holmes-Henderson concluded that Latin acts as an English Literacy boost for disadvantaged primary school pupils. SEND, EAL and FSM pupils made significant progress in reading and writing, with demonstrable continued positive impact after 1, 2, 3+ years of Latin.
• Unlike modern languages, classical languages didn’t experience a drop-off during the pandemic. The numbers of students at both GCSE and A Level have remained relatively stable over the last five years. 
• As acknowledged by the report, the Latin Excellence Programme made a huge impact on widening access to Latin in state schools outside London and the South East. 

The Classical Association, as the Secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Classics, will continue to act as a clear voice for change.

It is essential that classical languages maintain parity of esteem with modern languages in curriculum policy, teacher training bursaries and input in government research and missions. You can follow the links to learn more about our mission and our work.