Latest News

9 September 2025 (Lingo Loustics)

Lingo Loustics is running a Comic Strip in French competition to celebrate the European Day of Languages (26 September).

Pupils are invited to create a comic strip with speech bubbles in French, letting their imagination run wild!

They can also make a short video acting out their comic, and introducing their characters with details like name, age, likes, dislikes, hobbies, favourite colour or animal.

Fun prizes to be won! Entries will be judged in two age categories (5-8 and 8-12+) by some of my fellow La Jolie Ronde colleagues. All participants will receive a certificate to celebrate their creativity.

Deadline: 23 September 2025.

Send entries to: versionoriginalelanguage@yahoo.com

9 September 2025 (TES)

Student demand to study Mandarin in UK schools outstrips supply by seven to one, the British Council has warned.

A report published today says that thousands of young people are missing out on Chinese language and cultural education because of a major gap between student interest and access.

The report shows that while 37 per cent of UK students might be interested in taking Mandarin if it were available, only 5 per cent currently can.

The Building UK China Capability Through Education report is based on a survey of more than 1,000 students aged 13-18.

Read more...

9 September 2025 (British Council)

Calling all Scottish primary and secondary schools! Following the findings of our inaugural 2024-25 report, we're back to track how language education continues to evolve.

This year, we want to see what trends are continuing, what's changing, and what new patterns are emerging.

• It takes just 15 minutes to complete
• Deadline 3 October 2025
• Separate surveys for primary, local authority secondary, and independent secondary schools

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. 

Access the surveys and read the 2024-25 report on the British Council website.

Read more...

9 September 2025 (Goethe-Institut)

Teachers of German, take advantage of the Goethe-Institut's professional development drive this autumn!

Why not improve your German in Germany? Apply for the funded immersion course by 22 September. Or if you can't travel, there are courses at the Goethe-Institut UK or online. You can also find online seminar recordings for teachers on a range of methodological, didactic and cultural topics for German classes.

Visit the website to check out the wide range of professional learning opportunities available this session.

Read more...

9 September 2025 (SQA)

The SQA has published Portfolio flyleaves for Advanced Higher Modern Languages. These can be found within the Coursework section of the Advanced Higher Modern Languages webpage.

The latest set of past papers 2025 and marking instructions have also been uploaded. Search by subject area.

9 September 2025 (GCHQ)

GCHQ, one of the UK’s intelligence agencies, is running its annual National Language Competition (NLC) 17-21 November 2025.

All Year 9 (England and Wales) / S2 (Scotland) / Year 10 (N Ireland) students are welcome to take part, including home educated children.

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 is required, only a keenness for languages. The winning team with the most points at the end of the competition will be invited to GCHQ’s Headquarters in Cheltenham, to be presented with their trophy!

Teachers, or adult representatives (for home educated children), email nlc@gchq.gov.uk to register your interest. You will then be added to the GCHQ NLC mailing list, ensuring that you receive all updates about the competition going forward! You can also visit the GCHQ National Language Competition webpage for more information and to explore sample challenges.

Read more...

9 September 2025 (ESFF)

As in previous years, the Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival (ESFF) has prepared a stimulating Schools’ Programme, offering both online and in-person screenings carefully selected for their age-appropriate themes and language. Accompanied with tailored educational materials, the programme is designed to support the teaching and learning of Spanish language and culture across non-university education settings in Scotland and throughout the United Kingdom. This initiative is proudly supported by the Spanish Embassy Education Office and the Consulate General of Spain in Edinburgh.

Online screenings: Participating schools will be provided with a unique access code available from 3rd to 10th October.

• Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles – An animated film exploring how Luis Buñuel created Las Hurdes, tierra sin pan (1933). Recommended for ages 12–15. Trailer.
• Los futbolísimos – A lively film about a school football team, addressing themes of inclusion and teamwork. Recommended for ages 9-12. Trailer.

In-person screenings

• Los aitas (Breaking Walls) – A film reflecting on historical changes during the fall of the Berlin Wall and exploring new forms of fatherhood (1^st October, 10:30 a.m. Edinburgh Filmhouse). Trailer.
• CartasVivas – A project that brings to life the voices of Spanish women who have often been overlooked. During the screening, the project coordinator will present materials directly to the students (3^rd October. 10:00 a.m. French Institute). Trailer.

Recommended for ages 12–15.

Registration

To participate in any of these events, please register or purchase tickets using your institutional email account. Reservations can be made through the following links:

• Los aitas (Breaking Walls): Filmhouse – Learning
• CartasVivas: Eventbrite link
• Online screenings (Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles & Los futbolísimos): Eventbrite link

Further information about the four screenings is available in the images below.

We warmly invite schools to take part in this unique opportunity to explore Spanish cinema and culture within an educational context. 

Should you have any questions, please contact: harriet@edinburghspanishfilmfestival.co.uk

8 September 2025 (The Conversation)

Australia and England are both multicultural countries where hundreds of languages are spoken. However, in both, levels of language learning at school are worryingly low.

Australia has seen a major downturn in language learning. In 2021, fewer than 10% of students in year 12 – the final year of compulsory education – were studying a language.

Exam entry figures for England show the numbers of young people taking languages at GCSE is stabilising to some degree. However, since 2004, when a language subject was made optional after the age of 16, there has been a decrease of 35%.

In both countries, the lack of a strong language learning culture contributes to low enrolment and achievement rates in foreign language education. That both countries are English-speaking also leads to the idea that there is limited use in learning additional languages, because English is so widely spoken worldwide.

This has resulted in the perception that inhabitants of both Australia and England are poor language learners.

Our research suggests this is not necessarily true. There is an appetite for language learning among young people in both countries, along with support from their parents. 

Read more...

8 September 2025 (World Kid Lit)

The World Kid Lit Reading Challenge Award is a new competition for schools to promote international and inclusive reading.

The Award is intended to encourage young people to read for pleasure, to explore international perspectives and global citizenship and, through reading in translation, to see the value of a second language as a cultural and creative asset.

Students can read for their challenge at any time of the year, but the Award is open for entries during September, World Kid Lit Month, up to 10 October.

Visit the Reading Challenge Award website for more information about the competition and links to resources to celebrate World Kid Lit Month.

Read more...

6 September 2025 (The Herald)

The number of pupils achieving Gaelic qualifications in Highland schools is on the increase, according to Highland Council.

Overall, 197 pupils in Highland achieved a National Five, Higher or Advanced Higher Gaelic qualification this year – an increase of 25 from the 2024 total.

(Note, subscription required to access full article)

Read more...

5 September 2025 (University of Strathclyde)

Children of Spanish nationals living in Scotland will have the opportunity to take part in free language and culture classes through a new partnership involving the University of Strathclyde.

The ALCE programme is a Spanish heritage, language and culture initiative for young people aged seven to 17. It aims to strengthen linguistic and cultural ties among Spanish communities living abroad and is fully funded by the Spanish Government.

Read more...

5 September 2025 (SCILT)

SCILT’s ECT Primary Languages Signpost Sessions 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

Each Signpost Session is 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 sessions as you like:

• Wednesday 24 September, 16:00–17:00 - Developing a multilingual ethos in your primary class
• Wednesday 26 November, 16:00–16:45 - First steps in teaching primary languages
• Wednesday 28 January, 16:00 -16:45 - Digital tools for primary languages
• Wednesday 25 March, 16:00–16:45 - Getting outdoors with primary languages
• Wednesday 27 May, 16:00–16:45 - Next steps in teaching primary languages

Registration closes two days before each session, and the online link to join via MS Teams will be sent out one day in advance. These sessions will not be recorded.

Register via the link below. Please also find attached flyer which can be shared with colleagues. 

Read more...

4 September 2025 (QMU)

Primary teachers seeking to create an inclusive environment in their educational setting can apply for Queen Margaret University's online short course, designed to help them confidently discuss disability with primary school learners. It’s also ideal for teachers looking to build their Continuing Professional Development (CPD). 

Despite efforts to foster inclusion in mainstream settings, there is persistent negativity in interactions between some non-disabled children and their disabled peers. 

QMU's "Disability Confidence for Educational Practitioners" short course addresses these issues and explores ways to reduce ableism and discrimination towards disabled children.

Course highlights: 

• 6-week online course starting this September 
• Flexible, self-paced learning 
• Led by experts with lived experience 

 What participants say: 

“This was an excellent course. It helped me build my confidence in talking about disability.”

“You could work through it at your own pace and re-watch videos — that was really helpful.” 

“After my last experience with higher education, I had trepidations… but I felt very ‘held’ and supported. This was a great experience.” 

Visit the QMU website to sign up by 15 September. 

Read more...

4 September 2025 (SCILT/DYWLive/eSgoil)

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 March, linking with key focus weeks in the calendar. All dates are now available to book:

• Wednesday 17 September @ 10.00
• Friday 3 October @ 11.00
• Tuesday 11 November @ 2.00 (Scottish Careers Week)
• Monday 8 December @ 10.00
• Thursday 15 January @ 11.00
• Wednesday 4 February @ 2.00 (Languages Week Scotland)
• Tuesday 3 March @ 10.00

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

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

Read more...

4 September 2025 (SCILT)

Language Ambassadors Online is back for 2025-26! 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! Sessions take place on the following dates:

• Thursday 25 September 11.00 – 12.00
• Wednesday 29 October 9.00 - 10.00
• Tuesday 25 November 2.00 - 3.00
• Friday 23 January 10.00 - 11.00
• Tuesday 24 February 11.00 - 12.00
• Wednesday 18 March 2.00 - 3.00

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

Read more...

4 September 2025 (French Film Festival)

The French Film Festival UK Learning Programme 2025 is now out and available for booking immediately!

Download the programme, with full details of the films and a link to the booking form French Film Festival Learning Programme 2025. Learning resources for each film will be available to download shortly.

Last year over 26,500 primary and secondary pupils took part, with teachers noting, “A significant positive impact on student engagement with language learning” after participating in the programme.

In the meantime, if you have any questions please contact schools@frenchfilmfestival.org.uk

Read more...

2 September 2025 (Japan Foundation)

Apply for funding for promoting Japanese Language Education in the United Kingdom. Institutions can apply for up to £2500 for non-profit-making projects or activities which promote Japanese language education in the UK. 

We prioritise projects that fit into one of the four following categories: 

Category 1 - Newly Introducing Japanese into the curriculum 

Category 2 - Supporting GCSE or A-level courses 

Category 3 – New Japanese clubs 

Category 4 - Projects that enable links between primary/secondary institutions and institutions of higher education

Application deadline: Tuesday 30 September 2025.

Visit the website for more information and to apply.

You can also register to attend one of the upcoming online Q&A sessions:

• Monday 8 September 2025, 1pm to 1.30pm 
• Thursday 18 September 2025, 1pm to 1.30pm

Read more...

2 September 2025 (The Conversation)

Rett syndrome is a rare neurological condition that disrupts physical and linguistic development, affecting around one in 10,000 women and even fewer men. For decades, researchers assumed that people with the condition, many of whom lose speech during early childhood, were confined to a limited range of cognitive and linguistic abilities.

But in Wales, where many families are bilingual and speak both English and Welsh at home, our recent case study showed that access to two languages can help the linguistic growth of someone with the speech-limiting developmental condition Rett syndrome.

Read more...

1 September 2025 (UCL)

We hope that you will join in this national survey of educators that is exploring practices related to Learning for Sustainability (LfS) across Scotland.

As a community of educators working in university, school, community and policy settings, we recognise the important role that education has in responding to sustainability issues at local, national and global levels.

Our aim is to develop a detailed and comprehensive understanding of the experiences and practices of educators from across Scotland with a focus on Learning for Sustainability.

This will help us better understand diverse approaches to practice, identify the barriers and challenges which persist and identify further support to strengthen LfS across Scotland.

We would like to hear from educators in a range of settings including school, teacher education, local authority, informal education and community learning.

We value the ideas and experiences of those who have no or limited engagement with LfS as well as those who are currently engaged with LfS.

The survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes. Please visit the website for more information and to complete or scan the QR code on the flyer below.

Read more...

1 September 2025 (Institut français)

The Institut français d’Ecosse organises a free online training programme for primary school teachers of French with no or very basic knowledge of French to develop their language skills. 

This programme is intended to help teachers develop their language skills in order to feel more confident in the classroom. Please note that the course will not cover the pedagogy of teaching French and will not provide any teaching materials or techniques. 

Interested? Please register by sending an email to Charlotte HYVERNAUD,  Attachée de coopération pour le français: education.ifecosse@institut-francais.org.uk  

Please give your surname/first name/position/school name and address/level of French/level taught (P1, P2, P3, etc)

1 September 2025 (Dunfermline Press)

In the first two weeks of the summer holidays 10 pupils from Queen Anne High School embarked on the "experience of a lifetime" in China.

Led by depute headteacher, Douglas Sinclair, the S5 and S6 students joined kids from local authorities across Scotland for an immersion programme in Tainjin and Beijing.

The visit was coordinated by the Confucius Institute for Scotland's Schools (CISS) at The University of Strathclyde.

Mr Sinclair said: “It was a pleasure and privilege to lead such a fantastic group of young people, they fully engaged in the programme and embraced new challenges, showing great resilience and responsibility."

Staying on campus at Tianjin Normal University, the pupils completed their SQA China Bridge Award, a fully accredited SQA qualification in Mandarin.

They also enjoyed traditional Chinese cultural activities including a cruise along the Haihe river and a visit to Tianjin No 2 High School, the QAHS partner school.

Read more...

30 August 2025 (The Scotsman)

Scotland’s oldest known bagpipe chanter and a bible carried by an unknown soldier at Culloden have been included in a collection of great Gaelic objects.

They are among 100 items which now appear, along with their back stories, in a new bilingual resource of objects which reflect the people, culture and language of the Gaeldom.

Read more...

28 August 2025 (The Herald)

Attempts to drive the growth of the Scots language across the country will receive a boost of £650,000 from the Scottish Government.

The funding will be shared among 11 organisations who promote the language with Deputy Minister Kate Forbes to officially announce the news later today.

(Note - subscription required to access full article)

Read more...

28 August 2025 (ENACT)

The ENACT Web App Prizes will be awarded to the people who upload the best cultural activities for language learning using the ENACT ‘CREATE’ author software during the period 1 July to 1 December 2025. We aim to increase the number of languages and cultures on the ENACT app by rewarding materials in languages and cultures which we do not already have.

There are 7 prizes, each of a minimum of £100. All winners will also receive an ENACT Web App Gold Certificate. All materials will feature on the front page of all ENACT media and the activities will be promoted around the world on the website.

Prize categories include Best Materials produced by a Child or Group of Children (under 18 years).

See the attached flyer for more information and how to enter.

28 August 2025 (UK-German Connection)

Funded opportunity for qualified UK teachers of any subject and school type to visit a German school in-person for one or two weeks during the academic year of 2025-26.

No German language skills required.

Q&A webinars for teachers interested in finding out more about the Professional Enrichment Programme are taking place on 9, 17 and 22 September. Visit the UK-German Connection website for more information and to apply. Applications close 26 September for visits in spring/summer term.

Read more...

28 August 2025 (Open University)

Teachers Learning to Teach languages (TELT) aims to increase and improve language provision in primary schools. Teachers simultaneously learn a new language and the skills to teach that language in the classroom. The programme is General Teaching Council for Scotland approved and can count towards postgraduate qualifications.

The 2025-26 session, beginning in October 2025, is the concluding presentation of the TELT programme in its current format, and will offer post-beginners level study only on the module LXT191 Post Beginners French / German / Spanish / or Mandarin Chinese.

LXT191 is suitable for teachers who already have a working knowledge of their chosen language, equivalent to A1 on the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR). This can have been acquired through previous study of the TELT programme introductory level modules LXT192 (French), LXT193 (German), LXT194 (Spanish), LXT197 (Mandarin Chinese), or through other equivalent study, or extended visits to the countries where the target language is spoken.

LXT191 begins on Saturday 4 October 2025, and the fee for teachers working in Scotland and who are permanently resident in the UK is £318.00 per module place.

The deadline for registration requests is by 5pm on Thursday 11 September 2025.

This will be the final time which LXT191 is available to study.

More information on the programme can be found at TEachers Learning to Teach languages | Open University in Scotland Should you have any questions about the programme and how to register please contact scotland-languages@open.ac.uk

26 August 2025 (UK-German Connection)

Would you like to boost your school’s international ethos, pupil motivation and teachers’ professional development? Through the Host a Teacher from Germany programme, your school can host a German teacher (in-person or virtually) for one, two or three weeks during the academic year – no costs involved for UK schools.

All schools and further education colleges in the UK can register. The programme is open to teachers of all subjects and German does not need to be offered at your school.

Registration deadlines:

• 26 September 2025 to host in the spring/summer term, or
• 12 December 2025 to host in the summer term

Visit the website to find out more about the programme and sign up to join one of the Q&A webinars running throughout September.

Read more...

26 August 2025 (UK-German Connection)

Applications are open for UK-German Connection's funded school partnership seminar in Potsdam/Berlin from 20 – 23 November 2025 for UK teachers (all sectors and subject areas) that are interested in linking with schools in Germany. The opportunity is open to all UK teachers whose school currently has no partnership with a school in Germany.

Visit the UK-German Connection website for full details and how to apply.

Application deadline: extended to Wednesday 10 September 2025.

Read more...

26 August 2025 (SCHOLAR)

Heriot-Watt University's online platform, SCHOLAR, supports a range of subjects across the Scottish curriculum and provides learners with a wide array of interactive and engaging content and teachers with detailed reporting on pupil progress.

SCHOLAR’s programme of free professional learning webinars for teachers is back. Each subject-specific webinar will focus on how teachers can make the most of SCHOLAR to enhance and inform learning and teaching.

The following sessions will be of interest to language professionals:

• 11 September - Modern Languages
• 17 September - ESOL

See the webinar schedule for more information and to book your place!

25 August 2025 (SQA)

Earlier this month, SQA was honoured to host a delegation from its partner institution in China, Beijing Yinhong.

More than sixty teachers and students visited SQA’s offices in Glasgow with a view to strengthening international collaboration and foster cultural exchange and celebrate the success of a partnership that has now been running for over 20 years.

China remains SQA’s biggest international market, with 35 approved centres delivering SQA Advanced Diplomas to an increasing number that reached ten thousand students’ entries over the last two years. The visit by the delegation from Beijing Yinhong served as a reminder of our shared commitment to education. The visit also provided a platform to showcase SQA’s work and reflect on the positive outcomes that are contributing to a brighter future for learners in both countries.

Read more...

24 August 2025 (The Times)

French lessons are très populaires at a Glasgow secondary school that is taking teaching out of the classroom and on to the sports pitch.

(Note - subscription required to access full article)

23 August 2025 (The Guardian)

Lots of people told me to not study languages – including my own (monolingual) dad. “You’re never going to be as fluent as a native speaker,” I remember him saying when I was deciding on my university degree. “Why bother?”

A little more than a decade later, I’ve collected a wealth of experiences. I’ve staffed Sotheby’s Madrid reception desk, I’ve taught theatre and English to Syrian children excluded from mainstream schools in Beirut. I’ve given a speech on sustainable development goals for Arab audiences at the UN, and I’ve trained journalists in Ecuador’s most dangerous city. I’ve dated men I’ve wanted to, swatted off men who I didn’t, sung songs, cooked recipes, all in languages that are not my native tongue. And most important of all? I’ve changed my dad’s mind.

Read more...

22 August 2025 (IberoDocs)

Returning for its 11th edition, the IberoDocs festival will take place across Edinburgh, Glasgow and new city Dundee from 10-28 September.

Celebrating the cultures of Latin America, Spain and Portugal through powerful documentaries, this year’s programme of features and shorts are connected by the themes of searching and the sea, speaking of identity, belonging, fluidity and transformation. With screenings and short programmes available for different ages, there's something for everyone!

Visit the IberoDocs website for full programme and booking details.

Read more...

22 August 2025 (SCILT)

The European Day of Languages (EDL) is celebrated on 26 September each year. It aims to promote the rich linguistic diversity of Europe and raise awareness of the importance of lifelong language learning for everyone. What is your school doing in 2025?

If you're looking for inspiration, SCILT has compiled lots of ideas for primary, secondary and parents & families on our EDL webpage. What about creating a language portrait, designing a treasure hunt or hosting a multilingual film night? You will also find links to competitions, blogs and websites with a huge range of celebration ideas and activities. 

Let us know how you celebrate and we'll include you in our EDL 2025 blog. Upload a short description and some colourful photos or email scilt@strath.ac.uk.

If you're sharing your celebrations on social media, remember to find us on BlueSky and Instagram. Use the hashtag #coeEDL to share your celebrations with schools across Europe!

Read more...

21 August 2025 (Languagenut)

This free online course supports trainee teachers with their professional development. Alongside the course, trainees also receive free access to the Languagenut platform whilst they are training!

With curriculum-aligned resources, interactive content, and classroom tools, the programme helps trainees build confidence and deliver engaging lessons from the start. For more information or for trainee registration, please visit the Languagenut website.

Read more...

21 August 2025 (Goethe-Institut)

The Friends of the Goethe-Institut UK have become an Approved Activity Provider with the Duke of Edinburgh Award, offering German as a skill via the Gimagine Award. From September onwards, participants can sign on directly with the FGI UK and complete their entire skill section (including Assessment) in one go!

Visit the Goethe-Institut website for more information and to register for one of the information sessions both taking place on Zoom as follows:

• 11 September 2025, 4:30 pm 
• 22 September 2025, 4:30 pm

Read more...

19 August 2025 (Babel)

Language lovers in sixth year, college or university are invited to enter the 11th edition of Babel magazine's competition for young writers.

Get writing to be in with a chance of getting yourself published – as well as winning a year’s subscription to Babel!

For more information see the online flyer.

Read more...

19 August 2025 (British Council)

Looking for free resources and fresh ideas for the new academic year?

We’re here to help! At the British Council, we support schools across the UK with a wide range of free, downloadable classroom resources – all designed to introduce your pupils to people, cultures and ways of living from around the world.

Visit the British Council website to discover our full collection!

Read more...

19 August 2025 (Scottish Local Authorities)

Commencing next week, and open to all Scottish schools, the courses are provided by Argyll & Bute, Highland, Aberdeen City and Fife Council.

These courses provide on the job professional learning and help teachers make time for languages in the curriculum. Teachers learn alongside their pupils in real time and are supported to lead the learning in their own class.

Suitable for P4-7 classes. The lesson structure alternates between short bursts of direct teaching from the online teacher, followed by the class teachers leading their own class in a team game. This format allows the learning to remain active and fully engage the learners. Each lesson lasts approximately 40 minutes and will take place via GLOW Microsoft Teams. All resources will be available to download in advance of the session and will be stored in the GLOW Team.

Access more information and sign up on Canva.

19 August 2025 (SCILT)

An exciting professional learning opportunity, working with SCILT and Education Scotland - back for 2025! 

Based on the Simon Breakspear -Teaching sprints methodology of making one small, manageable and consistently-applied change at a time, we will support you to develop and improve your teacher professional practices. Together we will explore how this technique can be applied to planning and improvement for language departments and faculties, making change manageable and achievable.  

There will be two parts to this:  

1. An online workshop on Thursday 11 September, 4.00 – 5.15, which is open to anyone who interested in finding out more about the programme, followed by  
2. The opportunity to sign up as individual departments to work with us over the remainder of the session. We will have three meetings with you:  

• An initial discussion to identify the change you want to achieve, and look together at ways to do this  
• A mid-point check - to discuss progress and any adjustments needed 
• A follow-up meeting at the end of the sprint to evaluate the success and impact of your work  

Last year, participants worked on areas as varied as questioning, differentiation and feedback, all with real success.

We would love to work with you too!

Read more...

15 August 2025 (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.  

• Wednesday 24 September (4.30-5.30pm) 
• Thursday 15 January (4.30-5.30pm) 
• Monday 27 April (4.30-5.30pm) 

TOGS meetings are open to all primary and secondary practitioners who teach – or would like to teach – German in their context. This network offers colleagues a chance to share experiences, practice and ideas to enable German to grow in Scottish schools. Germanists in higher education and cultural institutions are also welcome to attend, so do feel free to come and join us!   

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

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.

Read more...

15 August 2025 (SCILT)

A series of four online workshops for in- and pre-service primary teachers with each workshop focuses on a different aspect of pedagogy.

Our experienced Professional Development Officers and enthusiastic invited speakers support you to develop practice related to the home and taught languages in your context. 

Informed by the latest guidance and examples of current practice. 

• 18 September: Developing a multilingual ethos in your primary school

• 2 October: First steps in teaching primary languages

• 29 October: Getting outdoors with primary languages

• 11 November: Give careers education a languages twist
   

The online workshops will be hosted on MS Teams and will not be recorded. 

Registrations for all workshops are open now via the links above. Please also see attached flyer which can be shared with your networks. 

12 August 2025 (SCILT)

Scottish schools can now register interest in the next block of the Mandarin Virtual Exchange Teacher programme, beginning w/c Monday 27 October until w/c Monday 15 December. Over eight weeks, classes will be allocated a pair of student teachers who will work with their class to delivery weekly live streamed Mandarin lessons. The project provides classes for beginner level 1, 2, & 3. The courses are suitable as L3 provision for BGE pupils in P5-7, as well as being suitable for Secondary BGE learners.

There will be an online information meeting (with a choice of two dates in September), to give an overview of the course and what is required of Scottish class teachers. Attendance at an information meeting is a requirement to participate in the programme, with the exception of teachers who have previously attended an information session and/or taken part in the VET programme within the last year. Teachers who are new to the programme are required to attend the meeting, even if the school has taken part previously.

Interested teachers should fill out the registration form. More information about the programme can be found on the SCILT website, and any questions can be directed to scilt-chinese@strath.ac.uk.

Read more...

11 August 2025 (British Council)

Could welcoming our learners’ other languages into the classroom be the key to greater inclusion and more effective learning? Teacher-researcher Huma Riaz explores how plurilingualism can create richer, more supportive English language learning experiences.

“No Arabic here, please.” 

“Please don’t use Spanish.”

Sound familiar?

Walk into any English language classroom today, and chances are you will find more than just English being used - whispers in French, a few words in Hindi, perhaps some Chinese or Lingala. These moments are often seen as distractions or even barriers by teachers who may have been trained to view languages as distinct entities: English is English, and Hindi is Hindi - as if they are songs on the playlist; when one is on, the others are off.  

But what if we stopped asking learners to leave their languages at the classroom door and instead invited them in? 

Read more...

25 March 2025 (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 pupils, who will be choosing their National Qualifications, and S4/S5 pupils choosing their Highers, 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 an example of a previous event here: Where will languages take me? | British Council.

The online events are free of charge, and I hope to make recordings available of some of the events. 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 2025

S4/S5: Tue June 3rd 2025, 09:15-10:15

S2/S3: Wed June 11th 2025, 09:15-10:15

Autumn term 2025

S4/S5: Wed Oct 15th 2025 09:00-10:00

S4/S5: Tue Nov 11th 2025 09:15-10:15

S2/S3: Thur Nov 20th 2025 09:00-10:00

Spring term 2026

S2/S3: Wed Jan 14th 2026 09:00-10:00

S4/S5: Thur Jan 20th 2026 09:00-10:00

S2/S3: Tue Feb 10th 2026 09:15-10:15