Latest News

25 September 2026 (CISS)

We are delighted to once again offer the opportunity for S6 school leavers to take part in the Tianjin Scholarship programme to study Mandarin at Tianjin Normal University during the 2027-28 academic year.  

This is more than just a gap year or a language course. This immersive, life-changing experience can broaden young people's horizons, develop their intercultural competences and open their eyes to endless possibilities for their future. They will have the chance to really master the Chinese language, as well as foster friendships that will last a lifetime and grow and develop as responsible, global citizens who will be effective contributors to society.  

The Scholarship is open for any current S6 pupil who attends a state school in Scotland. This Scholarship is intended to provide an immersive learning experience for pupils with no previous connections to Chinese language and culture. Therefore, applicants must be non-Chinese nationals from a non-native Chinese-speaking background. 

Applications for the 2027-28 Scholarship are now open with a closing date of October 31 2026. Successful applicants at this stage will be informed by mid-November and invited to an interview in Glasgow during the following dates: 

• Tuesday 1 December 
• Wednesday 2 December 
• Thursday 3 December 
• Friday 4 December 

Successful interviewees will be informed by the end of December.

Registrations are also now open for a Scholarship information session on Tuesday 6 October, for more information and any questions you have.  

You can find more information about the Scholarship, as well as guidance documents and registration links, on the Scholarship project website.  

Read more...

25 September 2026 (ECML)

The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Petra Bayr, made the following statement, ahead of the European Day of Languages marked on 26 September:

‘“Languages unite!”, the motto for the 2026 European Day of Languages, reminds us that languages can serve as bridges between people, communities and cultures. In a world often marked by division and misunderstanding, the willingness to learn, speak and value other languages fosters mutual respect, empathy and cooperation.

Europe’s rich linguistic heritage is one of its greatest strengths. By encouraging language learning at all stages of life, protecting regional and minority languages, and promoting plurilingual education, we help build more inclusive, cohesive and resilient societies. Europe speaks with many voices, and each language learned can open new perspectives and strengthen our shared European commitment to democracy, human rights and cultural understanding.’

Background information on the Day

Every year since 2001 the European Day of Languages marked on 26 September celebrates the wealth of languages coexisting in Europe and beyond. It is estimated that there are over 200 indigenous languages in Europe, without even including languages which have arrived on the continent through migration.

The specific aims of the European Day of Languages are to:

• raise awareness of the importance of language learning in order to increase plurilingualism and intercultural understanding;
• promote the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe;
• encourage lifelong language learning in and out of school.

The Council of Europe and the European Commission work closely together on the co-ordination of the Day.

The dedicated website, which is partially available in 42 languages, provides details of the hundreds of events taking place in celebration of the Day, as well as a wide variety of resources and activities for everyone interested in languages and language learning. 

24 September 2026 (TES)

Starting a new secondary school can be daunting for anyone: new teachers, new systems and the challenge of re-establishing a sense of belonging.

Now amplify that experience by having to learn a new language, navigate a new culture and understand a new concept of what education looks like.

This is the reality faced by English as an additional language (EAL) pupils in many schools, including ours - Barr’s Hill School in Coventry - where 43 per cent of the cohort is EAL.

The question for schools, then, is how do you accelerate language acquisition for newly arrived students while ensuring they feel part of the school community from day one?

(Note - subscription may be required to access full article)

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24 September 2026 (TES)

GCSE languages exams were graded “less harshly” this summer than in the past - but there is “still some way to go”, analysis has found.

FFT Education Datalab researchers were “somewhat surprised” to see improved attainment across the three most-entered GCSE modern foreign languages (MFL) this year.

The analysis emerged days after a think tank warned that GCSE languages are in a “death spiral” - and that “equitable exam marking” could reassure students they will not underperform relative to other subjects.

FFT says in its new analysis: “We have for many years thought that these subjects were too harshly graded.”

Read more...

24 September 2026 (SCILT)

Salve a tuttə!

We’re delighted to share some dates for this session’s meetings of the Teachers of Italian in Scotland (TOIIS) network. The first event will take place online on Tuesday 3 November, 4.00–5.00pm, and registration for this is open now on Eventbrite.

For this first meeting of the session, we’ll hear from practitioners about the exciting things they are doing or have done with Italian in their contexts. This will be a great opportunity to share good practice, exchange ideas and be inspired by colleagues from across Scotland.

Further TOIIS network dates for 2026-27 will be shared soon, but please keep Saturday 27 February 2027 (10.00am - 1.30pm) free for an in-person event in Glasgow.

Read more...

24 September 2026 (SALT/SCILT)

SALT and SCILT are looking for presenters for our upcoming Six in Sixty professional learning event! 

We are interested in hearing from primary practitioners who would be willing to present for 8-10 minutes on an aspect of their practice. This could be anything from ways of embedding language learning in the primary curriculum, cross-curricular links, teaching phonics, or anything else that is working well for you and your school. Please note that this is not an opportunity to promote commercial resources. 

The event will take place 16.00-17.15 on Wednesday 27 January 2027. Each presenter will have a slot of 8-10 minutes, and the event will take place on MS Teams. 

If you are interested in presenting, please complete the registration of interest form. 

You can also register to attend the event via Eventbrite. 

Read more...

24 September 2026 (SCILT)

Are you a student, or do you know a student, who is considering pursuing language studies beyond secondary education? A great starting point is the Beyond School section of the SCILT website!

With links to university and college language courses here in Scotland, UCAS and university guides UK-wide, and help and advice on study abroad options and volunteering overseas it covers a broad range of language learning opportunities.

New this year is our interactive map of Scottish universities ‘Moving Forward with Languages’. The map contains student video testimonials, allowing prospective students to hear first hand what it's like to study languages at that university. It's a useful resource for teachers and Careers Guidance staff to share with pupils!

Read more...

22 September 2026 (UKLO)

UKLO (United Kingdom Linguistics Olympiad) is a language-analysis competition for all ages. We create linguistics puzzles and run competitions for school children to encourage a lifelong interest in the world’s languages.

It's entirely free to take part and requires no preliminary knowledge in language, linguistics or any other subject taught at school.

From decoding alien messages to scents and smells, UKLO questions are diverse with over 70 confirmed different variations. There is something for everyone!

To find out more and to register to take part, visit the UKLO website.

Read more...

22 September 2026 (Education Scotland)

Interdisciplinary Learning is a planned curriculum experience that brings disciplines together in one coherent programme or project. The different disciplines plan and execute as one. These disciplines might fall within one curricular area (eg languages, the sciences) or between several curricular areas.

This Education Scotland programme is designed for practitioners across Scotland at all stages of their career who want to strengthen their understanding and application of IDL in practice.

To successfully complete the programme, participants are expected to:

• attend all core in-person and online sessions
• engage in professional reading and self-directed learning between sessions
• complete reflective tasks relating to their own practice
• apply learning within their own context

Participants who complete the required elements will receive a certificate of completion from Education Scotland.

For more information, and to apply by 30 September, visit the Education Scotland website.

Read more...

22 September 2026 (ALL)

The primary languages conference is in a new format this year and is called the ‘Primary Languages Show’. All ticket holders will be able to access 10 video recordings of presentations on the theme of the Primary Languages Journey (small charge applies).

The presenters are all experienced teachers who have a wealth of expertise teaching languages to young learners. Their presentations are 20 - 30 minutes in length. They will be available from Monday 5 October and can be viewed as many times as you like until 31 January 2027. View the Primary Languages Show programme for full details.

In addition to accessing the video presentations, you will be able to watch the Virtual Exhibition (12 primary languages publishers and resource providers) and attend the live fringe event via Zoom on Thursday 26 November 7.00 – 8.30pm. The fringe event will be an opportunity for greater interaction.

Visit the website to register.

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22 September 2026 (Queen's College Oxford)

The Queen’s Translation Exchange is delighted to launch the seventh edition of the Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators, the UK’s leading translation prize for schools.

The Anthea Bell Prize is free to enter and open to pupils aged 11-18 at all schools across the UK. The Prize currently offers translation from French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish into English, and from French into Welsh.

The Prize is designed to be integrated into languages teaching throughout the school year. To that end, registered teachers have access to over 130 free teaching packs, each dedicated to the creative translation of authentic literature and culture. These can be used in the build-up to the competition and as a complement to curriculum teaching year-round.

This year, we have launched a brand-new Resources Library that allows teachers to search and filter our resources by topic, grammar, and links to exam curricula. We will also be running an extended programme of webinars, with sessions dedicated to translating German film, using our Russian ab initio and Mandarin resources, and our annual 'Meet the Judges' webinar.

Visit the Anthea Bell Prize website to register and to access the resources and receive regular updates.

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch at translation.exchange@queens.ox.ac.uk.

Read more...

22 September 2026 (SCEN)

Registration is open for the SCEN Youth Summit and Mandarin Speaking Competition 2026, which will take place on Thursday 26 November 2026 at The Ramshorn, Glasgow.

Schools are invited to enter students for the Mandarin Speaking Competition and to contribute to the programme through performances and presentations.

The participation form, competition rules and judging criteria, and provisional programme are attached. Completed forms should be returned to admin@scen.info by Friday 6 November 2026. Please note, the venue capacity is limited and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so early registration is recommended.

21 September 2026 (The Edinburgh Reporter)

The arts organisation, Hands Up for Trad organised the Scots Language Awards 2026 and has now announced the winners in a variety of categories.

These are the awards which honour people who actively use Scots which is one of the three indigenous languages of Scotland in their everyday lives.

Read more...

21 September 2026 (The National)

The University of Edinburgh has been slammed after plans revealed cuts to seven programmes of study in the Celtic and Scottish Studies department, in a move which could lead to "cultural and linguistic erasure".

This week, it was announced that various undergraduate degrees in Scots literature, Scottish ethnology and Celtic studies would be cut alongside a reduction of language courses including Russian, Persian, Portuguese, Italian and German.

The university's leadership cited "financial pressure" for the decision, which will be in effect from autumn next year.

Read more...

18 September 2026 (The Conversation)

Learning another language is a highly complex mental activity. It requires people to remember words, distinguish unfamiliar sounds, recognize patterns, work out grammatical rules and retrieve the right expression at the right moment. All of this happens while listening, interpreting and preparing a response.

Could all this mental activity also help keep an aging brain healthier? Research suggests it can.

Read more...

18 September 2026 (SCILT)

Make the most of the Euroquiz national competition for P6 learners! This annual project engages teams in exploring Europe and the wider world.

Subjects covered include languages, history, geography, culture and European affairs. Heats take place across local authorities from February to March, with the winning teams from each area progressing to the National Euroquiz Final in June.

Registration for the 2027 cohort is about to start in local authorities. To register your team and find out more about the project, please get in touch with your Euroquiz coordinator. If you are not sure who your local coordinator is, please contact us at scilt@strath.ac.uk. Sapere Aude!

17 September 2026 (TES)

Language learning for GCSE students in England’s schools is in a “death spiral” and the government needs to act to reverse the decline, a think tank has warned.

Access to language subjects at GCSE in schools across the country is “far from equitable”, according to the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) paper.

The think tank’s report finds “stark disparities” between different regions in the uptake of languages at GCSE.

It suggests that languages fare better in London, where the per-student GCSE entry average is 0.69, compared with the South West and the North East, where the average drops to 0.42. 

Related articles:

Language GCSEs in English schools: A postcode lottery? (HEPI, September 2026)

Read more...

17 September 2026 (Lingobox)

Looking for French ideas for 26 September? We’ve put together a free planning pack for primary teachers, packed with practical French activities for European Day of Languages that can be picked up, adapted and used straight away!

Teachers can download the free French planning pack from our European Day of Languages blog, where we’ve also shared 10 practical activity ideas for primary schools, with suggestions for adapting them for different ages and stages.

Languages Unite!

The theme of this year’s European Day of Languages is Languages Unite!, so you might also want to check out our other EDL blog 'Languages Unite', which includes even more multilingual ideas for celebrating the day — including our super-popular Thank You in 50 Languages song. This also includes a link to our free song pack!

17 September 2026 (GCHQ)

The GCHQ National Language Competition returns for 2026, from 16 to 20 November!

Schools/groups can enter multiple teams of up to four. Over the course of five days, teams will compete to score points by tackling a variety of fun, immersive, language themed challenges of varying difficulty levels hosted on a virtual platform. No prior knowledge required - the competition aims to inspire language learning by encouraging students to discover their aptitude for learning languages. The target age group is S2 in Scotland.

Teachers can register interest on the GCHQ competition webpage.

Read more...

17 September 2026 (BBC CBeebies)

The BBC is looking for young children (aged 3-6) who speak other languages at home. Parents are invited to film a video of their child teaching us something short and simple in one of the languages they speak. They don't need to be fluent - it just needs to be something short which could be used as fillers on the CBeebies channel. 

Visit the BBC CBeebies website for more information and submission guidelines.

Read more...

16 September 2026 (The Herald)

A French tutor from Livingston has been named a national finalist in a UK-wide business awards scheme.

Sandra Kasparek is one of 90 finalists in the Customer Excellence category at The Class Business Awards 2026, which recognises businesses operating in the classes, clubs and activities sector.

A native French speaker from Metz, Kasparek is founder of La Jolie Ronde, French Livingston and French For Fun, Livingston.

She was shortlisted for her approach to customer care and learner experience, built over more than 16 years of teaching French.

Read more...

16 September 2026 (The Conversation)

Northern Ireland is in the process of establishing a new curriculum for primary and secondary education. The proposed Northern Ireland Curriculum Framework 2028, TransformED – currently under consultation – sets out a new, knowledge-rich curriculum.

Knowledge-rich means a strong understanding of subject-specific content, rather than, for instance, more general skills. There are many similarities with the 2013 educational reforms in England spearheaded by then education secretary Michael Gove, such as the influence of cognitive science and the belief that secure knowledge underpins higher-order thinking.

Some of the most far-reaching proposed changes in Northern Ireland are in language teaching.

Read more...

16 September 2026 (Scottish Government)

In this video from Scottish Government, Alan Smyth MSP, Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education, talks about the Scottish Government’s ambitions for the Erasmus+ Programme and his own personal experience of it. He is speaking at the British Council Erasmus+ Reception at the EAIE Conference in Glasgow at the start of September.

If you are intending to coordinate Erasmus+ projects, why not register to attend the upcoming Scotland Training Day?

The event is designed as a practical partnership and capacity building event, helping organisations use Erasmus+ to support whole-institution development, address strategic priorities and create new opportunities for staff and learners.

The event is free of charge but registration is essential. Registration deadline: Monday 28 September at 12noon.

Visit the website for more information and to book your place.

Erasmus+ is the EU's programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. It offers mobility and cooperation opportunities in education and other areas. This training event is organised by the Association of Coordinators for Erasmus+ UK. The deadline for Erasmus+ applications is likely to be February 2027.

15 September 2026 (Education Scotland)

Maths Week Scotland is taking place from 19 to 27 September. Each year schools are invited to take part in a range of challenges and competitions. The following are also ideal to include in the language class! Follow the relevant link for more information:

• Maths wi nae borders - the challenge includes a section which must be answered in either Gaelic or Scots. Enter by 10 October.
• Maths tales competition - invites young authors to create a story that includes maths. Submissions in Gaelic are also invited. Entry deadline: 25 September.

Find out more about other Maths Week challenges on the Education Scotland webpage.

Read more...

14 September 2026 (BBC)

Long lost oyster beds on the West Coast of Scotland have been rediscovered thanks to Gaelic and Scots language.

Scientists searched for the inclusion of the Gaelic words for oyster or oysters – eisir, eisirein and eisirean – and oyster habitats like sandy banks or tidal causeways in place names around Scotland's coast.

They then found an oyster bed that had not been previously documented, as well as confirming oysters could have been present at other sites on Mull and Islay.

Read more...

Do you have a story to share with the languages community?

We are currently taking submissions for our winter 2026 newsletter. This is a great opportunity to promote what has been happening in your school or local authority with regard to languages. This is a chance to showcase innovative projects, language learning celebrations or initiatives which have taken place since our last submission date in March. We would love to hear from, or your pupils!

We are looking for articles of a maximum of 300 words, with a couple of colourful photos. The deadline for contributions is Friday 9 October 2026.

Visit our website to read the full submission guidelines, and to view previous editions of the newsletter. Submissions can be sent to SCILT. 

Read more...

11 September 2026 (The Herald)

The UHI North, West and Hebrides has launched a new postgraduate course to strengthen Gaelic community development.

The new course will support Gaelic development officers to build specialist skills in community development, language revitalisation and sustainable regeneration.

(Note - subscription required to access full article)

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10 September 2026 (SCILT)

Calling all Germanists! Dates for this session’s meetings of the Teachers of German in Scotland (TOGS) network are below, and registrations are now open on our Eventbrite page.

• Tuesday 27 October 2026 (4.30-5.30pm, online)
• Saturday 27 February 2027 - save the date for an in-person event in Glasgow (10.00am - 1.30pm, details to follow)
• Monday 14 June 2027 (4.30-5.30pm, online)

The TOGS network provides a forum for primary, secondary and tertiary colleagues to share experiences, practice and ideas to nurture German learning in Scottish schools. Whether you teach – or would like to teach – German in your context, feel free to come and join us! And if you would like to share some of your own practice, or suggest topics that the network could address, we would love to hear your thoughts: Teachers of German in Scotland - Sharing Resources and Approaches 😊 – Fill in form.

(NB: If you have already signed up to our TOGS mailing list, please note that you will automatically receive the link prior to each meeting).

Read more...

8 September 2026 (CinémaAttic)

CinémaAttic specialises in pop-up film screenings, underground events and retrospectives on Iberian and Latin American cinema.

Young Hearts, Strange Worlds

The programme brings together seven short films about young people standing at the edge of change, caught between the worlds they have inherited and the ones they dream into existence.

• Saturday 19 September, 8.30pm, Edinburgh
• Thursday 8 October, 8.00pm, Glasgow

Frontera

In 1943, as Franco closes the escape route for Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution across the Pyrenees, civil servant Manel Grau decides to defy orders and help them cross the border. Winner of multiple 2025 Gaudí Awards.

• Thursday 17 September, 8.00pm, Glasgow
• Monday 21 September, 8.30pm, Edinburgh

Visit the CinémaAttic website for full programme details and to buy tickets.

Read more...

8 September 2026 (ESFF)

The Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns in 2026 with a rich schools offer across Scotland and the UK, featuring in person screenings and online classroom viewing supported by resources for teachers.

In-person screenings for schools in Edinburgh and Tranent, Thursday 1 October 10:30 am.

• Ganas de vivir (Lust for Life), Spain, 2026, 71 mins, suitable for ages 7+

Online films for flexible classroom viewing across the UK, 1 - 16 October:

Once again, the Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival, in collaboration with the Spanish Embassy Education Office, Platino Educa and the Unidad de Acción Educativa Exterior of Spain, will offer schools across Scotland and the UK free online access to two engaging Spanish-language films — one feature film and one short film — for students studying Spanish as a foreign language.

• Un mundo para Julius (A world for Julius), 104 mins, suitable for ages 7+
• Nena (Girl), 12 mins, suitable for ages 7+

Both films come with a free teaching guide and classroom activities. Easy, flexible online access: Watch the films in your classroom, using a simple access code.

To book a screening or request an online access code for flexible classroom viewing, follow the instructions on the attached flyer. If you have any problems opening the attached flyer or have any questions about the schools programme, please contact natalia@edinburghspanishfilmfestival.co.uk.

Teachers who participate in the schools programme, either through in-person or online activities, and consent to the sharing of their personal data with the institutions involved in the festival, will be eligible to enter a prize draw to win a scholarship from the Universidad de Salamanca covering an online teacher-training course.

4 September 2026 (SCILT)

Our multilingual poetry competition, Mother Tongue Other Tongue (MTOT), is back for session 2026-27!

This year the competition remains focused on the written word. Whilst entries can be illustrated with pupils' hand-drawings and recordings can be submitted, there is no requirement to include these elements. All pupils from P1 to S6 can take part, whether entering in a language spoken with families at home (Mother Tongue) or a language they are learning (Other Tongue).

Pupils can write about any subject but there will be a special prize category this year for entries on the theme of 'Peace'.

Visit our MTOT webpages for more information and to register by 1 October to take part!

Read more...

4 September 2026 (SCILT)

New for 2026-27! Our Secondary Open Access: In Practice series of workshops feature selected topics from our Professional Learning Menu 2026-27, redesigned to be accessible to individuals rather than attended by departments/local authority groups.

Aimed at secondary practitioners, these workshops will look at current priorities, examining strategies and sharing resources. The key focus of all of them will, as the title suggests, be on practical approaches and discussions; we know the theory, let’s look at the practice! We’d love you to come along and join the conversations. 

Sessions are as follows: 

• Interdisciplinary Learning: In Practice: Thursday 24 Sep 2026,  4.00–5.15pm 
• Content Creation with AI: In Practice: Thursday 28  Jan 2027, 4.00–5.15 pm 
• International Partnerships: In Practice: Thursday 22 Apr 2027, 4.00–5.15 pm 

All of our seminars are free to attend and are open to all secondary languages teachers and student teachers.

3 September 2026 (eSgoil/DYW/SCILT)

We are delighted to be working together with e-Sgoil and DYW Live again this year to deliver the Languages and Your Career webinar. In this fully interactive session we will explore how languages can contribute to success in a wide range of jobs and career paths. We aim to introduce secondary learners to the importance of languages and their associated skills in the workplace, break down stereotypes of careers that use languages, identify appropriate career pathways, and hear examples of people who use languages in their daily work.

The Languages and Your Career workshop will be repeated each month on different days and times from September until February, linking with key focus weeks in the calendar and covering the usual period of subject choices. All dates are now available to book:

• Wednesday 23 September @ 10.00 (European Day of Languages week)
• Friday 9 October @ 11.00
• Tuesday 10 November @ 2.00 (Scottish Careers Week)
• Thursday 10 December @ 10.00
• Monday 18 January @ 11.00
• Wednesday 3 February @ 2.00 (Languages Week Scotland)

Sessions will take place in Glow Teams; we hope to see you there!

For more information and registration details, see the e-Sgoil website.

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28 August 2026 (SCILT)

SCILT's professional learning menu of workshops for secondary, primary and mixed-sector groups is open for booking!

The workshop menu offers opportunities to develop knowledge and skills related to aspects of ethos, curriculum and pedagogy. There is the option to build your own workshop and to pick 'n' mix content to meet the needs of your group.

We welcome requests from colleagues with whole school, cluster, network or local authority responsibility for sourcing professional learning for primary, secondary and mixed sector groups.

View the full menu attached, and submit your request via the link below.

Read more...

28 August 2026 (SCILT)

This Autumn SCILT is hosting two free workshops for primary teachers. Join us online to learn about interesting examples of current practice on two important areas of practice.

• Developing a multilingual ethos in your primary school on Wednesday 30 September, 4-5pm
• Sustainable Development Goals and languages in primary on Tuesday 27 October, 4-5pm

27 August 2026 (SCILT)

Language Ambassadors Online is back for 2026-27! Led by students from universities right across Scotland who study a whole range of different subjects, these sessions are designed to promote languages to young people and to encourage them to choose languages as part of their learning experience, whatever other subject areas they may be interested in. In the online workshops, our wonderful ambassadors share their experiences of learning languages and discovering new cultures, answer learners’ questions and generally seek to enthuse and inspire!

This year’s sessions will take place on the following dates:

Thursday 24 September 11.00 – 12.00

Wednesday 28 October 9.00 - 10.00

Tuesday 24 November 2.00 - 3.00

Friday 22 January 10.00 - 11.00

Tuesday 23 February 11.00 - 12.00

Wednesday 24 March 2.00 - 3.00

All sessions will take place on Microsoft Teams. Visit our Eventbrite page to find information and book to bring your class(es) along.

Read more...

21 August 2026 (SCILT)

We're delighted to invite you to the monthly ToFiS meetings for teachers of French in primary, secondary or tertiary education in Scotland!

Taking place on the first Thursday of every month, 16:15 - 17:15, we are aiming to offer a mixture of online and in-person sessions:

• Thursday 3 September - Five for French: 5x 10 minute snapshots of current policies and practice
• Thursday 1 October - Primary focus
• Thursday 5 November - Secondary focus
• Details to be confirmed - Thursday 3 December - in person local end of year meetups

You can join the Teachers of French in Scotland (ToFiS) network via our sign-up form and register for the events on our Eventbrite page or via the QR code on the attached flyer.

Read more...

20 August 2026 (British Council)

As the new school year gets underway, here are some British Council programmes and opportunities to support international learning and language education in schools across Scotland. Follow the appropriate link to find out more:

• Erasmus+: An introduction for schools - this video recording offers an introduction to the Erasmus+ programme and how your school, your pupils and your staff can benefit. Erasmus+ offers life-changing international opportunities to study, train and collaborate in over 30 countries. Grant funding opens in November but you can find out more and prepare ahead by visiting the Erasmus+ website and signing up for the newsletter.
• Reading for Pleasure: Connect with a School in Morocco - applications are now open for the British Council's Reading for Pleasure guided partnership programme. Secondary schools (S1-S3) can partner with a school in Morocco to share reading experiences, explore diverse literature and build an international connection. There will also be opportunities for shared language learning across English, French and Arabic. Apply by 30 September.
• Learning Sectors - this international partnership programme from the British Council, supported by Formula 1, gives UK pupils aged 7-16 in state-funded schools the opportunity to work with a partner school in India or Spain on a shared STEM challenge. Whilst the project has no language-specific focus, the collaboration will build communication skills, confidence, curiosity and global awareness. Starting early October, find out more and apply now!

20 August 2026 (British Council)

Calling all Scottish primary and secondary school teachers!

Following the findings of our second annual Language Trends Scotland report, we're inviting all Scottish primary and secondary schools to take part in the 2026-27 survey and help us build a clearer picture of language education across the country.

Last year's survey revealed:

• Ninety-nine per cent of responding primary schools taught languages in the 2025-26 academic year.
• One fifth of primary schools embedded languages in their daily routines and across the curriculum.
• The two biggest challenges for primary languages were teacher confidence in language pedagogy and finding time in the curriculum.
• Sixty-three per cent of responding local authority secondary schools reported that all S1 learners studied more than one language, up from 52 per cent in 2024-25.
• More than 60 per cent of schools ran multi-level classes, and 55 per cent ran bi-level classes in S4. Teachers highlighted the challenges of this approach, but many viewed it as the only way to maintain language provision.
• Thirty-eight per cent of schools with Higher and/or Advanced Higher provision offered Edinburgh College language classes.
• Contrary to the wider UK trend, German continued to be well supported in Scottish independent schools.

It takes just 15 minutes to complete.

Deadline: 2 October 2026.

Ready to make your voice heard?

Click the link below to complete the survey and help us build a comprehensive picture of language education across Scotland.

There are separate surveys for primary, local authority secondary, and independent secondary schools.

Read more...

19 August 2026 (SCILT)

SCILT’s Primary Languages Signpost Sessions for early career teachers are online, free of charge and open to newly or recently qualified primary teachers working in Scottish schools and to student primary teachers studying at Scottish universities. 

Our Signpost Sessions are for you if are looking for: 

• advice on how to support multilingual pupils and their families 
• strategies for teaching additional languages 
• the chance to network informally with others at a similar career stage from across the country 

Signpost Sessions are themed, informal and will point you in the right direction for free resources, up-to-date guidance and practical teaching ideas. Sign up for as many of the sessions as you like: 

Read more...

18 August 2026 (ALL)

This annual competition is for anyone of school age, anywhere in the country, writing in any language!

This year we tie in with the UK Year of Reading to encourage young people to see the impact and power of writing a personal message to someone else.

The theme is: A few words that mean so much.

Full details and entry proforma can be accessed via the website flyer.

Read more...

4 June 2026 (Civil Service Languages Network)

British Council, GCHQ and the Civil Service Languages Network are working together to promote language learning among pupils in UK schools.

Your S2/S3 (Y8/9) pupils, who may be considering their options, and S4/S5 (Y10/11) students, prior to choosing their Higher/AHs, are invited to our open, online events – see dates below. There, they will hear from speakers with different roles across government who have used languages in their career, and how either studying a language in school, or speaking a heritage language, has enriched their life and career.

Pupils will have the chance to ask the speakers questions (via their teacher) through a Q&A session.

You can see some example videos here:

• Rosemary Pennells (British Embassy Tokyo) S2/S3 (Y8/9)
• Nerys Jones (British Embassy Berlin) S4/S5 (Y10/11) Government Languages Outreach talk

The online events are free of charge, and if you are unable to attend the events there are recordings which you can use instead.

To express interest, and help us keep in touch, please complete the form.

We look forward to welcoming your pupils to our events!

Summer term 2026

S2/S3 (Y8/9): Monday 29 June 2026, 09:00-10:00

S4/S5 (Y10/11): Wednesday 1 July 2026, 09:00-10:00

Autumn term 2026

S2/S3/S4/S5 joint event: Friday 25 September 2026 (for European Day of Languages on 26 Sept), 09:00-10:00

S4/S5 (Y10/11): Wednesday 11 November 2026, 09:15-10:15

S2/S3 (Y8/9): Thursday 19 November 2026, 09:00-10:00

Spring term 2027

S2/S3 (Y8/9): Wednesday 13 January 2027, 09:00-10:00

S4/S5 (Y10/11): Tuesday 19 January 2027, 09:00-10:00

S2/S3 (Y8/9): Thursday 11 February 2027, 09:15-10:15

Summer term 2027

S2/S3 (Y8/9): Monday 28 June 2027, 09:00-10:00

S4/5 (Y10/11): Thursday 1 July 2027, 09:00-10:00

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15 August 2025 (SCILT)

SCILT’s 2025-26 menu of professional learning workshops for groups launches today!

Free to book for groups of primary or secondary teachers working in local authority schools. Sessions are designed and facilitated by our friendly and experienced Professional Development Officers.  

Select a workshop from the menu below, or request a bespoke input tailored to your audience – the choice is yours. Choose your workshop theme(s), pick your dates and submit your workshop request. We’ll confirm arrangements with you promptly.  

These workshops offer a chance for groups of colleagues to dive into professional learning that explores engaging language pedagogies and examples of current practice.  

Requests from professional learning leads in schools, clusters, local authorities and SCIS welcomed all year round…starting now! 

Primary 

• Developing a multilingual ethos in your primary school
• First steps in teaching primary languages
• Next steps in teaching primary languages
• Assessment as learning in primary languages
• Getting outdoors with primary languages

Secondary

• Teaching Sprints – Small change, big impact
• Developing a multilingual and multicultural ethos
• BYOW: Build Your Own Workshop!
• The Big Question

For workshop descriptors, and to book one or more session for the group of teachers that you support, find the link the professional learning request form below.

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