Replace A-levels with the baccalaureate, says LSE lecturer

The UK education system is denying young people access to knowledge of foreign languages and senior European management jobs.

An industrial relations expert has called on the government to abolish A levels in favour of a continental baccalaureate system to provide young adults with training in foreign languages.

Ray Richardson, lecturer in industrial relations at LSE said: "As long as young people are forced to specialise in just three subjects at A level, we will continue to lag behind other countries in language skills."

Business leaders gathered at a conference this week claimed managers fluent in at least two languages are better because they are open-minded and able to cross cultural barriers.

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Stephen Boley, global HR director for IT at PricewaterhouseCoopers said large companies are always in need of such graduates.

By Richard Staines