STAFF shortages forced a school to deny pupils a chance to study GCSE foreign languages.

George Tomlinson in Kearsley was named as one of only 27 secondary schools nationwide where no pupils sat exams in French, German or Spanish in 2007.

But headteacher Rachel Glazebrook defended the decision to withdraw the languages after two teachers went on maternity leave and says they are now back on the timetable.

She said: "The situation was a unique one. We felt we were unable to offer our modern foreign language students the best preparation for their exams.

"We are back to full strength and have developed links with Little Lever Specialist Language College."

The school is now working to widen the choice of languages available by introducing Japanese and others in a bid to encourage more to take the subject as a GCSE option.

Deputy headteacher Libby Mooney said: "This school sees the value of modern foreign languages for young people.

"The headteacher's background is in teaching languages and she is keen to promote language and make the subject more accessible."

All pupils at the school study a foreign language up to year nine, with the most talented taking two. But children no longer have to take them at GCSE level after the Government scrapped languages as a compulsory option in 2004.

Mrs Mooney added: "What happened last year is not a reflection on the languages department on the school. We took the decision in the best interest of the pupils when we were faced with these very unusual set of circumstances. We always have a number of pupils taking languages at GCSE, a number which we will be looking to increase."

George Tomlinson School was named in a written response to a question asked in Parliament.

In 2006 the figure was also 27 for the number of schools where no pupils took a GCSE in a modern language and for 2005 it was 38.