This year's A Level results highlight the exceptional success of the MFL Department, with an impressive number of students earning places at top universities to continue their studies in languages and related fields.
Overall, three pupils received offers into Oxbridge, with all three languages represented in their courses, displaying both the strength and breadth of the department. Three quarters of pupils who studied German at A Level are continuing with the language at university and over half of the French and Spanish cohorts are continuing with university courses that involve further studies in their respective languages.
Learning a language at school can be incredibly beneficial for life after education. Languages help students build confidence and resilience by encouraging them to take risks, step outside their comfort zones, and communicate in unfamiliar situations.
It also strengthens problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration skills, all of which are highly valued in the workplace. These skills are becoming more important as AI takes on a larger role in many industries. Linguists are particularly well placed to navigate an AI-driven world because they are trained to think critically about meaning, context, and interpretation, allowing them to use AI tools effectively while recognising their limitations. Many of our A Level language students are continuing with language modules at university or choosing to spend a year abroad, even if languages are not their main degree subject. These experiences will further develop independence, cultural awareness and confidence of the students, preparing them to thrive in their future careers.
A 2025 report by the Higher Education Policy Institute showed a ‘catastrophic’ decline in language learning, yet at St Peter’s the Modern Foreign Languages department remains extremely strong, demonstrated by this year’s results. With access to language education becoming increasingly limited in schools across the country, St Peter’s is doing a fantastic job in bucking the national trend.
On top of the outstanding language education, there are a wealth of extra outreach opportunities that are provided to A Level linguists to help build their skillset further. These extra-curricular events and activities include external competitions like the Anthea Bell and Stephen Spender prizes for translation, the UK Linguistics Olympiad, the Journalism and Languages Day run by Business Language Champions and the regional MFL Debating competition that St Peter’s host annually.
These additional opportunities have done an exemplary job of preparing pupils for their exams and given them a breadth of experience within their subjects, which is a USP for university applications.
St Peter’s A Level success has not been limited to modern languages this year. Both our Latin pupils have secured places on language-based courses, with one going on to study at St Andrews and one at Oxford.
As the only school in York to offer A Level Latin within the timetable, St Peter’s is proud of its commitment to classical languages. It is particularly rewarding to see the hard work of the pupils studying it reflected in their achievements.