'Pupils must be forced to study languages'

Foreign languages must be compulsory to prevent a collapse in numbers of pupils studying French and German, according to education watchdog Ofsted.

Only schools that ignored the Government's decision to make languages optional from 14 are bucking the slump.

Even pupils who would ditch French and German for being too difficult can do well if they have the right teaching support, inspectors concluded. Ofsted's findings will revive the row over the decision to allow 14-year-olds to opt out of studying foreign languages from last September.

The move, authorised by former education secretary Estelle Morr i s, was intended to tackle apathy among secondary pupils and make time for vocational courses. She also introduced an " entitlement" for primary pupils to learn languages from seven.

Ofsted was commissioned by the Department for Education and Skills to examine how secondary schools in deprived areas with a successful record of teaching languages were ensuring their popularity.