Cutting language courses puts social mobility at risk, say UK experts

The Guardian World Sunday 05 July 2026, 14:00 UTC By Anna Bawden 1 min read

Key Points

Exclusive: University moves and falling exam entries fuel concerns about opportunities for working-class pupilsCutting 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...

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.

UK (LOCATION) the University of Exeter (ORG) the University of Nottingham (ORG) Russell Group (ORG)

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