Rise in Irish A-level entries bucks trend with German, French, and Spanish in decline

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/education/rise-in-irish-a-level-entries-bucks-trend-with-german-french-and-spanish-in-decline/a1167683919.html

Rise in Irish A-level entries bucks trend with German, French, and Spanish in decline

Spanish remains the most popular language at A Level

Irish was the only language in Northern Ireland to experience a rise in the number of A-level entries this year, education data has shown.
The upward trend was in contrast to the decline seen by other languages at this level, with Irish entries up by 2.1% in comparison to last year.

Numbers studying German fell by almost a third (32.9%), while French entries declined by 8%.

Despite a 4.5% decline, Spanish remains the most popular language among A-level entries, followed by Irish, French and then German.

"Languages help us connect with people and cultures” – Mary Mallon, British Council

Mary Mallon, head of Education at British Council Northern Ireland, said the overall downward trend in language study was “concerning”.

"Congratulations to all students across Northern Ireland receiving their A-level results today,” she said.

"This is a significant achievement, and we wish you every success as you move forward into the next stage of your journey – whether in further study, training or the world of work.

Rise in Irish A-level entries bucks trend with German, French, and Spanish in decline
Spanish remains the most popular language at A Level

Mary Mallon, Head of Education at British Council Northern Ireland
Mary Mallon, Head of Education at British Council Northern Ireland

Irish remains the second-most popular language at A-level
Irish remains the second-most popular language at A-level

Mary Mallon, Head of Education at British Council Northern Ireland
Mary Mallon, Head of Education at British Council Northern Ireland

Irish remains the second-most popular language at A-level
Irish remains the second-most popular language at A-level

thumbnail: Irish remains the second-most popular language at A-level
thumbnail: Mary Mallon, Head of Education at British Council Northern Ireland
Liam Tunney
Yesterday at 15:29
Irish was the only language in Northern Ireland to experience a rise in the number of A-level entries this year, education data has shown.
The upward trend was in contrast to the decline seen by other languages at this level, with Irish entries up by 2.1% in comparison to last year.

Numbers studying German fell by almost a third (32.9%), while French entries declined by 8%.

Despite a 4.5% decline, Spanish remains the most popular language among A-level entries, followed by Irish, French and then German.

"Languages help us connect with people and cultures” – Mary Mallon, British Council

Mary Mallon, head of Education at British Council Northern Ireland, said the overall downward trend in language study was “concerning”.

"Congratulations to all students across Northern Ireland receiving their A-level results today,” she said.

"This is a significant achievement, and we wish you every success as you move forward into the next stage of your journey – whether in further study, training or the world of work.

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"Although entries for many A-level languages continue to decline – a trend that is concerning given the importance of language skills – we remain committed to working with schools and educators to ensure language learning remains a vital part of education in Northern Ireland.

"Through our Language Assistant Programme and other international school programmes, we help connect Northern Ireland’s schools and young people with peers worldwide, enriching language learning through genuine cultural exchange and global perspectives.

"Our latest Language Trends 2025 report highlights the enduring value of language skills – not just for individual learners, but for Northern Ireland’s global future.

"Languages help us connect with people and cultures, open doors to international opportunities and are vital for building strong economic and diplomatic relationships.

"We recognise that there are challenges. Teachers have shared concerns about limited uptake, pressures around enrolment and the demands of current exam structures.

"These barriers must be considered if we are to give all young people the chance to benefit from the opportunities that language learning brings.

"Languages are more than just subjects – they are tools for life. In an increasingly connected world, your ability to communicate across cultures will be one of your greatest strengths.”