Schools teaching Spanish but no French these days?

[Star555]

I was having a look at websites of some of the top primary schools in London (Kensington Prep, Falkner House) and was very surprised to see that they listed Spanish in their curriculum, but not French! Have such schools really stopped offering French lessons completely and replaced them with Spanish these days? I find it impossible to believe, as France is our closest neighbour and French has traditionally been the most common foreign language taught in the UK. (Unlike the US, where Mexico is the closest non-Anglophone neighbour and Spanish is the most commonly taught foreign language.) Is this another example of Americanisation taking over British culture as well? (I'm looking at you, Dora the Explorer!)

Spanish is spoken in far more countries /by more people than French

Its not an Americanism, when we went to an Open Day at DS's big standard comp they explained why they had changed to Spanish apparently there was some sort of research done about which was most useful to learn and Spanish ranked above French. My other DS is at a different school and doing German (God knows why)

A very quick Google suggests French is about 8th most spoken language while Spanish is 4th most spoken language in the world. Perhaps we should all be learning Chinese or Hindu though?
Surely any language is worth learning?

Often, schools offer the language(s) that their staff can offer.

Totally pedantic, but France is not our closest neighbour, but that's an English and Gaelic speaking neighbour that we share a land border with. Not your point but on that basis we should be learning Irish Gaelic

Having learned both, as well as Spanish being spoken more widely, I'd say it's easier to learn. The pronunciation is more phonetic, and at least in the early stages the grammar is simpler.

I’ve taught both languages. It’s true that Spanish is taught more than French these days but the real loser has been German- very few schools seems to offer it these days.
I’ll always be a Francophile but Spanish is far more of a worldwide language and, IMO, rather easier for kids.

Spanish is spoken by 460 million people (as a native language) makes total sense!

I learnt both at school, Spanish has been both easier and more useful so I think it makes sense

Spanish and Mandarin are the two languages that should be being taught nowadays, based on the number of people in the world that speak them.

Absolutely nothing to do with 'Americanisation' (whatever that is)

"top London primary" schools. Ok. whatever

@Lovetoridemybicycle Actually those on the mainland should all be learning Welsh, Cornish or Gaelic.

On a more serious note I know more people who have picked up Spanish than French outside formal education simply because more people speak it, so they have more learning opportunities. So it makes sense for children to learn a language they have more people to practise with in the UK.

@Star555

I was having a look at websites of some of the top primary schools in London (Kensington Prep, Falkner House) and was very surprised to see that they listed Spanish in their curriculum, but not French! Have such schools really stopped offering French lessons completely and replaced them with Spanish these days? I find it impossible to believe, as France is our closest neighbour and French has traditionally been the most common foreign language taught in the UK. (Unlike the US, where Mexico is the closest non-Anglophone neighbour and Spanish is the most commonly taught foreign language.) Is this another example of Americanisation taking over British culture as well? (I'm looking at you, Dora the Explorer!)

French has been losing its footing as the most commonly taught MFL for years.

I graduated in French and Spanish in 1988 and Spanish was already taking the n1 spot.

It's more useful, easier, and for some reason the not to be underestimated affective dimension of Spanish have all played a part in this.

RedWingBoots- I agree with learning at least a bit of our own languages as well.

Yes, I know that is Spanish spoken worldwide by more people than French is, and that it's easier. I speak both myself (learned French at school and Spanish later). I am not asking about the relative merits/demerits of French vs Spanish.

I am asking if it is true that schools like Ken Prep and Falkner House have stopped teaching French completely? The websites are not just showing old information (staff vacancy during pandemic, etc.)?

You also asked Is this another example of Americanisation taking over British culture as well? so thats why people have been explaining to you that schools aren't teaching Spanish because that's what they do in America but because it makes more sense to teach Spanish. The easiest way to see if particular schools still offer French is to ask them.

@Hellocatshome

Its not an Americanism, when we went to an Open Day at DS's big standard comp they explained why they had changed to Spanish apparently there was some sort of research done about which was most useful to learn and Spanish ranked above French. My other DS is at a different school and doing German (God knows why)

German is the most widely spoken native language in Europe, so that's probably why your DC is learning it.

It's also the language that is most highly sought after by UK business and industry.

It's a good thing to be learning German, even if fewer schools seem to be offering it, as it's a qualification that not many people have. Make candidates stand out from the crowd.

I'm a German teacher btw.

@Hellocatshome

You also asked Is this another example of Americanisation taking over British culture as well? so thats why people have been explaining to you that schools aren't teaching Spanish because that's what they do in America but because it makes more sense to teach Spanish. The easiest way to see if particular schools still offer French is to ask them.

I did email those schools but they did not reply!

My DC's school offers French and/or German as that's what the teachers speak or it's their native tongue. Head of languages also speaks Mandarin and Russian and I wish they'd offer them too.

Spanish was taught in my daughters primary school and DD really enjoyed it. I found it was not offered at high school for her middle stream and only French. I found that frustrating to be honest. I think given the opportunity she may have picked it as a year 9 option if it was offered and she had learnt this following on from primary in year 7 and 8.

I’ve always thought Spanish is a more useful language. It’s spoken in so many countries including a lot of popular holiday destinations.

@Frazzled2207

I’ve taught both languages. It’s true that Spanish is taught more than French these days but the real loser has been German- very few schools seems to offer it these days. I’ll always be a Francophile but Spanish is far more of a worldwide language and, IMO, rather easier for kids.

German is much, much tougher to learn (know this from experience. Four very long years).

Latin-based languages like Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Italian are easier to learn. Also, if you learn one of them, you can extrapolate to the others.

A good base to have at the primary school level is Latin. Good schools will tend to have Latin in their curriculum.