Urdu and Mandarin 'could replace French and German' in schools

French and German could be abandoned in schools in favour of Mandarin Chinese or Arabic, it has been reported.

Ministers have asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to review what pupils aged 11 to 14 should study.

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The resulting plan is to be published in full for consultation today.

They include a move to make all children learn about the British slave trade.

Education Secretary Alan Johnson told the BBC he believes it is right to vary the curriculum to add languages which might be economically useful or help community cohesion.

So while pupils will still be able to learn traditional European languages like French and Spanish, schools will now have the option to teach subjects such as Urdu.

He said: "Young people need to be aware that languages can make you attractive to employers - and more employable.

"We need to raise our game in languages in schools if we are to compete in an increasingly globalised economy."

Mr Johnson also expressed a desire to see improvements in cookery lessons so youngsters learned how to prepare "simple healthy meals" from scratch.

The change is in line with proposals from Lord Dearing, who was asked to investigate the collapse of language study in secondary schools that followed the government's decision to make it optional after the age of 14.

In other changes to the curriculum all 11 to 14 year olds will have to learn about the British slave trade.

They will look at reformers such as William Wilberforce and Olaudah Equiano, and how the anti-slavery movement led to later campaigns and civil rights movements.