EXCLUSION OF THE JAPANESE LANGUAGE FROM THE ENGLISH BACCALAUREATE

That this House notes the concerns of schools, academies and the Japanese Embassy regarding the reforms to the National Curriculum which might lead to the teaching of the Japanese language not being included in the proposed English Baccalaureate (EBacc); further notes that the Japanese language is given a relatively low profile in the current consultation being undertaken by the Department for Education and that it is not included in the core list of language options despite the high standards of attainment by students studying Japanese; believes that the teaching of the Japanese language in schools makes an extraordinary linguistic and cultural contribution to overall education; further believes that its teaching and appreciation is reflective of the close and mutually beneficial relationship that Japan and the UK has had for many years and that its loss would see a significant devaluation to that relationship; records that Japan is a major trading partner of the UK and Japanese companies have contributed enormously to the communities where they have invested in the UK; and calls on the Government to give renewed consideration to the consequences of its non-inclusion into the English Baccalaureate.