(This note is not part of the Order)
A “modern foreign language” is a National Curriculum foundation subject in Wales in relation to the third key stage. Those languages which are to count as modern languages for the purposes of the National Curriculum are required to be specified in an Order made by the National Assembly, or, alternatively, such an Order may provide that any modern foreign language is a modern foreign language for such purposes.
The languages specified by the Order are, in all cases, the official languages of the European Community. In addition, in the case of a school at which third key stage pupils are offered the opportunity of studying at least one official language of the European Community, the Order provides that “any” modern foreign language is a modern foreign language for the purposes of the National Curriculum. In this respect, it differs from the Education (National Curriculum) (Modern Foreign Languages) Order 1991 which it replaces in that the earlier Order specified only those modern foreign languages listed in the Order whereas the present Order specifies any modern foreign language.