KENT’S position at the forefront of language teaching has been confirmed through national recognition.

The county council is one of just a handful of Local Education Authorities to be given language pathfinder status, in recognition of innovative modern language teaching.

Council cabinet member for education standards Paul Carter said: “We have been working extremely hard to promote foreign languages in our primary schools.

“The effort made by teachers has been central to getting our young language learners off to a flying start.” The new status will ensure greater levels of central funding for further teaching projects in Kent.