The University of Cambridge is proposing to abolish its admissions’ requirement for a grade A to C in a foreign language at GCSE, to attract more students from state schools. As national curriculum changes have meant a foreign language is no longer compulsory after 14, there has been a 30% drop, resulting in only half of pupils taking a foreign language to GCSE. Only 17% of state schools now enforce it. Cambridge is currently the only university with this requirement and as of next September proposes to leave the decision to individual departments.