Blog: Making the case for German in UK schools
NCLE is offering an unprecedented package of support for schools who offer German, or would like to, or who are simply looking for high impact ways of raising their languages profile. Andrea Pfeil and the Educational Service Team from the Goethe-Institut explain why German can help your school stand out.
Written by Andrea Pfeil and the Goethe-Institut Educational Service Team
As UK schools prepare students for a global future, languages must be central to the curriculum. Among them, German stands out and not only as the most widely spoken first language in Europe, but also as the language of the UK’s second-largest trading partner. Germany is the largest economy in the EU and the third largest globally. These economic ties are reflected in the job market: German is the most sought-after non-English language by UK employers.
The Goethe-Institut UK is proud to be an NCLE Consortium partner.
Located in London and Glasgow, the Goethe-Institut UK works to ensure that German remains both accessible and visible in UK schools. As the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Goethe-Institut operates globally with 150 institutes in 99 countries. It promotes knowledge of German abroad, fosters international cultural exchange and conveys a modern image of Germany.
One of its key initiatives in the UK is GIMAGINE, the German strand of NCLE’s national support for schools. GIMAGINE offers students opportunities such as youth mobility programmes that connect learners across borders. At the same time teachers benefit from tailored professional development, training and coaching programmes, designed to strengthen their expertise and confidence in the classroom. Schools can access practical support, from high-quality teaching resources to the organisation of free German events and projects throughout the year.
The Goethe-Institut´s work is rooted in the belief that language learning opens doors and every pupil in the UK should have the opportunity to benefit from it all the way through to A level.
But the case for German goes far beyond trade statistics.
Language learning builds transferable skills
Learning German equips students with a wide range of transferable skills that benefit them academically and professionally. These include:
- Communication skills
- Adaptability and resilience
- Intercultural competence and awareness
These skills are increasingly valued by employers and essential for navigating today’s interconnected world. Moreover, multilingualism has been shown to enhance cognitive abilities, improve memory and concentration, and boost performance in core subjects such as maths, science, and literacy. Studies even suggest that learning additional languages can delay the onset of dementia by up to 10 years.
German is accessible and broadens cultural horizons
Did you know? German shares many linguistic roots with English, making it more accessible to English-speaking learners. It also serves as a gateway to other Germanic languages like Dutch, Swedish, and Afrikaans, deepening students’ overall language awareness.
Beyond grammar and vocabulary, German opens doors to rich cultural experiences. Students gain direct access to literature, philosophy, music, radio, and film in their original form, deepening their understanding of different societies and perspectives. This cultural immersion fosters open-mindedness and empathy, helping students connect with others more meaningfully.
As Vicky Karmi, Subject Leader of German at Chesham Grammar School, puts it:
“It is absolutely important that everyone can speak not only English, but also another language. We are such a multicultural country that it is important […] in order to better understand cultures, so that we have less discrimination and racism.”
German opens doors to education and careers
Whether students aim for university or an apprenticeship, learning German opens doors to high-quality education and training. With nearly 470,000 international students, Germany is a leading destination for higher education, where tuition fees are often significantly lower than in the UK (or even free!), and where students can easily benefit from a wide range of exchange programs, scholarships, and institutional partnerships.
In the UK, German can be studied alongside over 60 non-language subjects, from accountancy to humanities, at universities across the country. This flexibility allows students to combine language learning with their broader academic interests.
A smart strategic choice to raise your school’s profile
Offering German reflects a school’s commitment to providing a well-rounded, future-facing education, with a subject that enjoys high recognition and value both academically and among employers. It enhances the school’s reputation within the local community and signals readiness to engage with global opportunities.
Schools that embrace German also benefit from a strong and vibrant network of teacher support and training resources supervised and delivered by the Goethe-Instituts in London and Glasgow. This support helps sustain high-quality language provision and ensure that teachers are equipped to inspire the next generation of learners.
What if your school doesn’t have German on the curriculum?
GIMAGINE can support you with German Clubs, careers events and other valuable extra-curricular activities that will raise your school profile. Please get in touch to explore these options.
German is more than a language; it’s a gateway to opportunity.
German connects pupils to Europe’s largest economy, equips them with life skills, fosters cultural understanding in a diverse society, and opens the door to financially advantageous education and training
Let’s invest in language education that prepares students for a global future, starting with German.
Two easy steps to explore further with NCLE:
- Sign up the NCLE’s free CPD platform, Language Educators Online (LEO). LEO features a specific German strand which dovetails with the other CPD and resources on offer. Signing up is free and takes just a couple of minutes.
- Get in touch with us via GIMAGINE today, to find out more about way you can provide more support for German in your school with the backing of the Goethe-Institut – both on and off the curriculum. Visit the Goethe-Institut website or email GIMAGINE@goethe.de
