Cutting language courses puts social mobility at risk, say UK experts | TheBriefWire
Cutting language courses puts social mobility at risk, say UK experts
Published 5 July 2026 ยท education
Exclusive: University moves and falling exam entries fuel concerns about opportunities for working-class pupils Cutting language courses at universities and schools risks undermining social mobility
Exclusive: University moves and falling exam entries fuel concerns about opportunities for working-class pupils Cutting language courses at universities and schools risks undermining social mobility and vocational skills, former education secretaries and experts in the UK have warned.
More than 70 languages academics were among 500 staff at the University of Exeter to be told last week they were at risk of redundancy as it seeks to cut 150 full-time posts, predominantly in the humanities.
The announcement followed the proposal by the University of Nottingham to become the first Russell Group university to offer no language degrees. Continue reading...
Published: July 5, 2026 โข 7:30 PM IST ยท Updated: July 5, 2026 โข 8:08 PM ISTBy TheBriefWire Editorial Team
Key points
Exclusive: University moves and falling exam entries fuel concerns about opportunities for working-class pupils Cutting language courses at universities and schools risks undermining social mobility and vocational skills, former education secretaries and experts in the UK have warned.
More than 70 languages academics were among 500 staff at the University of Exeter to be told last week they were at risk of redundancy as it seeks to cut 150 full-time posts, predominantly in the humanities.
The announcement followed the proposal by the University of Nottingham to become the first Russell Group university to offer no language degrees.