OCR welcomes Dearing report Monday 12th March 2007

OCR has welcomed Lord Dearing's Languages Review. OCR produces Asset Languages, the assessment scheme for the Languages Ladder.

Barrie Hunt, Director of Asset Languages, said: "We welcome the report's approach to assessment through the Languages Ladder at Key Stages 2 and 3 when children are developing a passion for languages. At primary the formative approach of Asset Languages is working well and at secondary many pupils are already being motivated by the scheme's approach."

He added: "Globalisation demands that as many of our young people as possible have access to language learning. Encouraging schools to keep their students involved to the end of their compulsory education is necessary too."

The Asset Languages scheme is designed to reward language skills for learners of all ages and abilities from primary to adult. The qualifications are offered at six stages, in over 20 languages, in all four skill areas; listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Since September 2005, in excess of 15,000 candidates have made entries across the range of languages offered and a further 50,000 are expected to make entries for summer 2007. Over 1,400 schools have already registered an interest in making entries in the future.