Latest News

30 January 2026 (SCILT)

Discover the World of Arabic with your P5-P7 class!

Imagine your pupils confidently greeting each other in Arabic, exploring ancient souks through virtual tours, or discovering the fascinating science and stories of the Arab world. This immersive experience is within easy reach for your classroom.

SCILT, in partnership with QFI, have now opened registrations to local authority primary schools for our Discovering the World of Arabic programme in 2026-27. Designed specifically for P5-P7 learners in Scotland, this programme makes introducing a critical world language engaging, effective, and simple for teachers.

Why Choose This Programme for Your Class?

• Engage with a Global Language: Give your learners a solid foundation in the world’s 5th most spoken language, opening doors to future opportunities.
• Truly Interdisciplinary Learning: Our 10-week blocks are more than vocabulary. Pupils explore Arab cultures, geography, history, and arts, enriching your classroom’s global perspective.
• Built for Teachers, by Teachers: All courses are developed and delivered by experienced, fluent Arabic-speaking teachers. We provide the expertise so you can enjoy the learning journey alongside your class.
• Flexible & Supported: Choose a beginner or post-beginner course, and select a term that suits you (Term 1: Sep-Dec or Term 2: Jan-Mar). Live lessons are scheduled on Thursdays or Fridays.

Participating primary schools will receive:

• Weekly live, interactive online lessons via Glow Teams.
• A loan box of authentic artefacts to bring culture to life in your classroom.
• Asynchronous materials on Glow Teams for consolidation and flexibility.
• Dedicated funding: New schools receive a start-up grant of £1000, and returning schools get continuation funding of £500. Schools can bid for further funding to provide resources and experiences that enhance the language learning and promote a positive experience of Arab cultures.
• Ongoing support from the SCILT Arabic team.

Don’t just take our word for it:

“The materials... were great, the workbooks were very useful. The mix of live and recorded sessions was a good idea.” – Participating Teacher

“We really like the box of resources. We liked learning about the different colours and clothes!” – Pupil Feedback

To secure this unique opportunity for your pupils, please complete our short Registration of Interest Form by Friday, 24 April 2026. Please email us at SCILT-Arabic@strath.ac.uk  if you have any questions. 

Open the door to curiosity, connection, and global skills for your class. We can’t wait to learn with you!

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30 January 2026 (SCILT)

For Secondary Schools: Discover the World of Arabic in 2026/27!

SCILT, in partnership with QFI, has now opened registrations to local authority secondary schools for our Discovering the World of Arabic programme 2026-27. With courses designed specifically for BGE and Senior Phase learners, this programme offers a chance to engage in a truly unique and valuable L3 experience.

Why Arabic? Why Now?

Arabic is the world’s fifth most spoken language, a key to a region of immense cultural, economic, and geopolitical significance. Our programme moves beyond textbooks to develop practical, conversational skills that enhance global awareness and, for Senior Phase learners, boost employability and university portfolios.

Choose what best fits your timetable:

• BGE or Senior Phase Course (Sept-Mar): A deeper, skill-building journey co-created with language specialists.
• Shorter Introductory Course (8 weeks, by arrangement): A perfect taster to ignite interest in Arabic language and cultures.

Participating schools will receive:

• Live Lessons: A dedicated, weekly online lesson with highly experienced and qualified Arabic teachers via Glow Teams, scheduled at a mutually agreed time.
• Engaging Asynchronous Materials: Flexible resources to consolidate learning and encourage independent exploration.
• Dedicated funding: New schools receive a start-up grant of £1000, and returning schools get continuation funding of £500. Schools can bid for further funding to provide resources and experiences that enhance the language learning and promote a positive experience of Arab cultures.
• Future-Ready Skills: Focus on conversational ability and cultural insight, preparing learners for a globalised world.

Our courses are designed for non-heritage, beginner learners seeking to stand out. Whether starting with our Beginner course or advancing with the Post-Beginner level, learners build a solid linguistic foundation while exploring the vibrant diversity of Arab cultures.

To apply, please complete our Registration of Interest Form by Friday, 24 April 2026. Please email us at SCILT-Arabic@strath.ac.uk  if you have any questions. 

Expand your learners’ language skills and build their intercultural competence. Start their Arabic journey with us!

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29 January 2026 (British Council)

This unique programme from the British Council supports UK schools to build lasting international partnerships with schools in Ukraine, and explore reading as a tool to expand horizons, build confidence and boost mental wellbeing.

Schools work together on activities to encourage reading for pleasure, building an understanding of each other’s cultures through a common love for reading.

The programme offers full support and resources, including specialist resources on the theme of reading for pleasure and Ukrainian language and culture, created by the British Council and the National Literacy Trust.  

Visit the British Council website for more information and to apply by 2 March 2026.

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29 January 2026 (British Council)

Nothing brings learning to life like working with schools in other countries.

Whether you want to increase understanding of global issues or enhance language learning, a school partnership can help you better engage pupils, reinforce existing projects, introduce new teaching approaches and, ultimately, improve learner outcomes.

The British Council offers a range of resources, guidance and learning opportunities for every step of your partnership journey – whether you’re looking for a partner or want to take an existing partnership to the next level.

Let us help you find a partner, choose a project and start engaging students in global learning today!

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29 January 2026 (British Council)

Each February, as part of British Council's Festival of Languages, we invite pupils to Celebrate Speaking.

Encourage your pupils to showcase their language skills by posting a short video of them singing, talking or reciting in a language they are learning at school or one they speak in their community on social media.

Remember to use #CelebrateSpeaking so we can see your contribution!

Find out more on the British Council website.

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29 January 2026 (UK-German Connection)

These bursaries support schools in keeping UK-German partnerships alive through direct contact and collaborative engagement between young people. Schools (primary, secondary, SEN) and FE colleges can apply, and activities must take place between 1 April 2026 and 31 July 2026.

Application deadline: 16 February 2026.

Visit the UK-German Connection website for further information and guidelines.

Read more...

29 January 2026 (SCILT)

Scottish schools can now register interest in the next block of the Mandarin Virtual Exchange Teacher programme, beginning w/c Monday 27 April until w/c Monday 15 June. 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 February/March), 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, or via the attached flyer, and any questions can be directed to scilt-chinese@strath.ac.uk.

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29 January 2026 (ISPS)

International School Partnerships Scotland (ISPS) are delighted to be working with Challenges Abroad to introduce exciting overseas opportunities for senior phase learners across Scotland. Programmes with Challenges Abroad cover a range of skills development in line with national SDE, Global Citizenship and Language Learning priorities. Placements can include studying with partner schools, working on community action projects, sustainability challenges, teaching and more.

Challenges Abroad offer full support to schools who want to apply for UK Government funding to enable learners with fewer opportunities to benefit from these life changing international experiences. There’s a helpful guide to Turing Scheme funding for 2026/27, covering everything from eligibility to full project management support. Get in touch to discuss how Challenges Abroad can help get your bid in shape before the March deadline! See the Challenges Abroad Turing Scheme website for details.

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29 January 2026 (SCILT)

Pupils from the project’s partner primary schools have recently showcased remarkable talent in the SDLL project logo competition. Children of all ages from Cradlehall, Thornwood and West primary schools were set a design brief to create the project’s official logo, and they responded with an inspiring display of creativity, colour, and artistic flair. Approximately 100 imaginative entries were submitted.

The judging panel faced a tough challenge selecting a winner, praising the high quality and originality seen across all submissions. Designs ranged from bold graphic symbols to thoughtful illustrations that captured the spirit and values of the SDLL project.

As with every competition, there can only be one winner. The winning design, created by a group of P6 children at Thornwood Primary School in Glasgow, stood out for its strong concept and visual impact and the judging panel was unanimous in its decision. One member of the panel, Simon Cunningham. Senior Graphic Designer at the University of Strathclyde, took the original design and has now transformed the child’s artwork into a professional, digitised logo that will represent the project going forward.

To celebrate the imagination, skill, and creativity of the children who took part in the logo competition, SCILT will host an exhibition of the children’s artwork during Languages Week Scotland 2026 (2 – 6 February). The exhibition will be located on Level 2 of the Lord Hope building in the University of Strathclyde. Thereafter, it will move to the University of Glasgow and will be on display towards the end of February. Come and admire the artistry on display!

For regular updates about the project, please visit the SDLL blog. 

Read more...

29 January 2026 (SCILT)

We have not one but two exciting events coming up for you!

1. Monday 23 February @ 4.15 – 5.15: Join us for the online launch of our new French teachers' association for primary, secondary and tertiary education in Scotland! Come along to meet one another and discuss plans for the Teachers of French in Scotland association, otherwise known as TOFIS! Sign up on Eventbrite.

2. Monday 22 June @ University of Aberdeen: save the date and venue for the third edition of The Future of French en Écosse forum! More information and registration link to follow soon.

29 January 2026 (SCILT)

Francofoot and Calciamo are our exciting football-themed resources and national competitions in French and Italian for learners in S2 and S3 – what better way to build up to Scotland’s glorious World Cup campaign?!

Our competition webpage has been updated with lots of new information and advice, including details of last year’s event, examples of entries and a quick start guide to help you plan and organise your participation. A full report on the pilot project last year will also be published soon.

Check out the webpage and see the flyer below!

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28 January 2026 (BBC)

Taxi drivers and their passengers in Lewis and Harris are being encouraged to speak to each other in Gaelic.

A pilot scheme by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar will see signs installed in taxis indicating that the driver is willing and able to speak Gaelic.

It is hoped it will help in normalising the use of the language in community settings.

Read more...

22 January 2026 (UK Government)

Applications for this year of the Turing Scheme will open at 12pm noon on Monday 26 January. The deadline for applications will be 4pm on Monday 16 March.

Supporting new and returning applicants for funding

YouTube videos and Q&A webinars are now available for viewing and signing up to. These will be available on the DfE Sector Comms YouTube channel: DfE Sector Comms - YouTube.

An introduction to the Turing Scheme for 2026-27

The introduction to the Turing Scheme videos are aimed at providers and staff within providers who have not previously applied for Turing Scheme funding for Higher Education. There is one for each sector. Potential applicants should watch those relevant to the sector(s) they are considering applying for funding under:

An introduction to the Turing Scheme for 2026-27 for Schools

An introduction to the Turing Scheme for 2026-27 for further education

An introduction to the Turing Scheme for 2026-27 for Higher Education

Changes to the Turing Scheme for 2026-27

This video provides an overview of changes to the policy and assessment of applications for the Turing Scheme in the 2026-27 academic year. It is intended for those familiar with the operation of the Scheme and covers all sectors:

Changes to the Turing Scheme for 2026-27

Turing Scheme 2026-27 Applying and Assessment

This video covers the application journey and key dates, what to include in your application, how assessment works and what strong responses look like.

Providers should watch this video after viewing the relevant Introduction to the Turing Scheme for 2026-27 (if they are new to the Scheme) or Changes to the Turing Scheme for 2026-27 (if they are already familiar with the Scheme).

Turing Scheme 2026-27 Applying and Assessment

There will also be a live Q&A webinar for each sector. Providers can sign up to the Q&A webinar for your sector(s) on Eventbrite.

Recordings of these live webinars will be made available on YouTube following these events.

Further guidance on the Turing Scheme is available on the UK government website.

Read more...

22 January 2026 (ENACT)

The ‘Around the World Club' is a free package for all UK schools, produced by Newcastle University. ATWC is aimed at primary learners, and aims to foster inclusion, curiosity and intercultural understanding. It allows learners to experience new languages and cultures every week while doing a hands-on cultural activity. Additionally there may be some in-person support available to schools wishing to introduce the Around the World Club in their context.

Find out more by downloading the free ATWC package or read more on the website.

Read more...

21 January 2026 (The Herald)

A Glasgow choir will aim to ‘bridge the gap’ between queer and Gaelic identity when practises begin next month.

Backed by Glasgow Life, composer and choir leader Josie Duncan has set up Còisir Chuèir (Queer Choir) for members of the LGBTQ community who are keen to participate in Gaelic singing.

According to the council-supported arts quango, “the new and inclusive choir will work with traditional Gaelic material (puirt-a-beul, òrain luaidh, waltzes, laments) as well as Gaelic translations of modern songs.

Read more...

20 January 2026 (ECML)

LAPP is an initial course in Language Assessment skills which is available free of charge to language teachers or trainee teachers. The course, launched on 19 January 2026, will help teachers to develop their skills in assessing students’ language proficiency.

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20 January 2026 (The Guardian)

Concentrated among 1,000 people in the remote Daliwe valley, siPhuthi has gained a dictionary, a Bible translation and official recognition thanks to intrepid linguists and activists.

Tsotleho Mohale was addressing a group of people gathered on a mountainside still damp from an intense rainstorm that morning. The peaks on the other side of the steep valley were draped in cloud. Mohale was speaking in siPhuthi, a language spoken by just a few thousand people in parts of southern Lesotho and the north of South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, about the plants he used and the ailments he cured as a traditional healer.

The questions came from Sheena Shah, a British linguist, and were translated into siPhuthi by Mohale’s grandson Atlehang. Shah’s German colleague Matthias Brenzinger was filming the exchange. The two academics have been travelling regularly to Daliwe, a remote valley in Lesotho about 15 miles from the nearest paved road, since 2016, working with local interpreters and activists to document siPhuthi.

Observing the encounter was a senior healer, Mathabang Hlaela. Initially she had refused to be interviewed, wary of foreigners stealing knowledge that she had been amassing since 1978. But after briefly disappearing into her corrugated iron hut, she re-emerged adorned with beads – a thick belt, headbands and multistringed necklaces – and declared that she too wanted to be interviewed in her native language.

While siPhuthi remains under threat from the dominant Sesotho in Lesotho and Xhosa across the border in South Africa, it has undergone a remarkable revival.

Read more...

20 January 2026 (NE Festival of Languages)

The annual North East Festival of Languages is well underway!

Taking place 6 January to 31 March there's a wide range of FREE events and activities available for children and young people aged 3-18. Whilst some of the initiatives are only open to schools based in the North East of England, there are many online activities, competitions and celebrations available to schools across the UK. Design a German Karneval mask, help Ursa Lingua the polar bear escape from a castle, explore multilingualism and migration, open a culture box of Asian and Chinese arts and culture, dive into African languages and cultures, engage with food on film and digital stories from around the world, immerse yourselves in Afro-Ecuadorian fairytales, access World Cup French lessons or Spanish Cinema in the classroom or have fun with Japanese and French Puppet Shows...there's something for everyone! 

Visit the Festival website for full programme details. You can also explore the Festival offerings by age, category or language.

Read more...

20 January 2026 (Languagenut)

Languagenut is proud to host the Euroquiz vocab again on our platform, designed specifically to help Scottish primary schools prepare for the annual Euroquiz competition.

Last year, we had the opportunity to attend the quiz and hear firsthand from teachers and pupils about how invaluable it was to have the key vocabulary on our platform. The interactive, multisensory tools on Languagenut make it easy for learners to practice and master the vocabulary they need for the quiz rounds. With personalised learning pathways, they can progress at their own pace and feel fully prepared for the challenge.

For more information or for a full demo, please contact: ana@languagenut.com

13 January 2026 (LA Times)

Older adults may find learning new languages challenging, but recent research shows the effort itself provides significant cognitive benefits that protect against brain aging.

A study of nearly 87,000 people ages 51 to 90 found that speaking multiple languages fosters healthier aging and makes brains more resilient.

Read more...

19 January 2026 (The Conversation)

Six-year-old Antoni, born in the UK to Polish parents, speaks only a few English words in class and often looks confused when the teacher gives instructions. He could simply be adjusting to English – or the problem could be developmental language disorder (DLD), a condition that severely impairs a child’s ability to learn, use and understand spoken language.

Such challenges are increasingly common for parents and teachers. In England, for example, around 21% of schoolchildren are growing up with a first language other than English. While most children’s language development – whether monolingual or multilingual – is typical, the average classroom includes two DLD-affected children. DLD’s prevalence, roughly 8%, is similar worldwide, from China to Mexico.

Even so, DLD remains under-recognised and under-served – especially compared to other developmental conditions, such as dyslexia, autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Identifying DLD in multilingual children can be difficult.

Read more...

15 January 2026 (Filmhouse Edinburgh)

The Edinburgh Filmhouse is excited to be screening 3 films for schools during Languages Week.

We have the French film Sauvages (PG) - 3 February, Spanish film Sorda (12A) - 4 February, and German film Cleo (for S1+) - 5 February. 

To book any of the films for your group, please email the following information to schools@filmhouse.org.uk

• Date, time, and title of screening

• Name of school

• Name of lead teacher and mobile number

• Number of pupils

• Number of staff members (please have 1 staff member for every 10 pupils)

• Any access requirements

• Preferred payment method – invoice, by telephone, or by card on arrival (for Sauvages and Sorda)

Read more...

15 January 2026 (TES)

An online learning platform that has been supporting Scottish schools for more than a quarter of a century could shut down operations at the end of this academic year, Tes has learned.

Scholar, the partnership between Heriot-Watt University and education directors’ body ADES, was established in 1999 with the aim - as the university said in a statement to Tes - “to deliver high-quality, curriculum-aligned online learning resources for senior-phase learners across Scotland”.

[..] Languages are a big draw for students on Scholar.

Read more...

15 January 2026 (SCILT)

SCILT’s 2025-26 menu of professional learning workshops is available to book throughout the year.

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.

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 to the professional learning request form below.

Read more...

13 January 2026 (Seachdain na Gàidhlig)

Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) is set to grow for the fifth consecutive year as it launches its funded programme of events.

Taking place from 23 February – 1 March 2026, the annual initiative is this year supporting 63 projects and events, with hundreds more expected to be staged across the week with everything from film screening and bingo to dance and walking events, all with the Gaelic language at their heart.

The 2026 theme, Use It or Lose It (Cleachd i no caill i), emphasises the importance of actively using Gaelic to keep it thriving. So visit the Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) website to find out what's happening and how to get involved!

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12 January 2026 (SCILT)

Join us for Languages Week Scotland 2026! The week runs from 2 - 6 February and the theme is Diverse Voices, Common Ground. The Week is a celebration of language learning and multilingualism in Scotland.

Each day throughout the Week, Languages Week Scotland will share a challenge on Instagram and invite learners, classes, schools and families to join in. To help teachers to prepare to engage with these challenges, we have published them in advance on our website. 

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8 January 2026 (SCILT/eSgoil/DYW)

To celebrate Languages Week 2026 eSgoil, SCILT and DYW have several exciting online sessions taking place. 

All sessions will last 45 minutes and take place 3-5 February.

There are sessions for teachers and students exploring how languages can benefit careers, along with specialist options focusing on Gaelic, Japanese and Mandarin.

Visit the eSgoil website for the full programme and to register.

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6 January 2026 (British Council)

According to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, the Year of the Horse begins on 17 February 2026. This education pack for primary schools offers a rich collection of information and activities to help teachers and pupils explore this vibrant spring festival and discover more about Chinese language and culture. The pack is designed for pupils aged 7 to 11 but can adapted for older or younger pupils.

Your pupils can learn to count in Mandarin, uncover fascinating facts about the symbolism of horses in Chinese art and culture, and explore the world of Chinese tangram puzzles. Creative activities invite pupils to make their own versions of a traditional Chinese scroll painting and to design hobby horse heads inspired by paper-cutting traditions found across China.

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6 January 2026 (Goethe-Institut)

The German Film Festival in Scotland is celebrating its 10th anniversary. From 21 January to 22 February 2026, we will be presenting a diverse and exciting selection of German films covering a wide range of topics and genres. We are particularly delighted to be working with our guest curator for 2026, Rastko Novaković, whose programme ‘Women: Words and Worlds’ takes us on a journey through more than 10 decades of cinematic storytelling in 10 films. Rastko has drawn on the film catalogues of the Goethe-Institut, the DEFA Foundation and the Werner Herzog Foundation to condense his unique view of cinema from Germany for us.

In addition, the festival also offers a selection of three films specifically for younger audiences and school screenings. All films will be shown in their original language with English subtitles in participating independent cinemas throughout Scotland.

Visit the Goethe-Institut website for full programme details.

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Languages Week Scotland 2026 will take place from 2 – 6 February and will be a week of activity across the country. The theme for 2026 is Diverse voices, common ground, and it will be an opportunity to celebrate language learning and multilingualism in Scotland. 

Visit the Languages Week Scotland website and follow the hashtag #ScotlandLovesLanguages on social media to find out what’s happening and to join in! There are ideas, resources and opportunities on the website. Share your plans and celebrations with us and we will include your activities on the Languages Week Scotland blog.

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12 December 2025 (King's College London)

The 2026 writing competitions run by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at King’s College London have now launched!

There are four competitions relating to the following subject areas:

• French
• German
• Spanish & Portuguese
• Comparative Literature

Entries are welcomed from students in Year 12 or 13 (or equivalent). Students may be studying for their A-levels, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers or an equivalent qualification.

The deadline for submission of entries is 23 February 2026.

Visit the website for full details and entry forms.

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11 December 2025 (CISS)

The Confucius Institute for Scotland's Schools is delighted to announce a poster competition to celebrate the forthcoming Year of the Horse!

The competition is open to all primary schools in Scotland, with a deadline for entries on Tuesday 3 February 2026.

Visit the CISS website for the competition criteria and how to enter.

Read more...

9 December 2025 (NE Festival of Languages)

Taking place 6 January to 31 March the annual North East Festival of Languages is now open for advance registrations with FREE events and activities for children and young people aged 3-18.

Whilst some of the initiatives are only open to schools based in the North East of England, there are many online activities available to schools across the UK.

Visit the Festival website for full programme details. You can also explore the Festival offerings by age, category or language.

Read more...

5 December 2025 (SCILT)

Bookings are now open for four in person workshops for in- and pre-service primary teachers. Taking place at, or close to SCILT HQ in central Glasgow, 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.

• 24 February - Developing a multilingual ethos in your primary school
• 18 March - First steps in teaching primary languages
• 23 April - Next steps in teaching primary languages
• 19 May - Getting outdoors with primary languages

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

2 December 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, including heritage languages, 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:

1. Rosemary Pennells (British Embassy Tokyo) Y8/Y9
2. Nerys Jones (British Embassy Berlin) Y10/11 Government Languages Outreach talk

The online events are free of charge, and it is hoped 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.

Spring term 2026

S2/S3: Wednesday 14 January 2026, 09:00-10:00

S4/S5: Tuesday 20 January 2026, 09:00-10:00

S2/S3: Tuesday 10 February 2026, 09:15-10:15

7 November 2025 (Languages@Strathclyde)

Languages@Strathclyde is very pleased to announce the programme for the Living Languages Series 2025-26.

This year’s series will include a rich variety of guests, and we are looking to welcoming you to one or more of the events. The interdisciplinary nature of the events, linked to business, sport, cinema, journalism…, should make them appealing to a variety of students. Teachers are welcome to bring a group of Higher or Advanced Higher students to these events.

Welcome to the Living Languages Series 2025-26!

A series of conversations organised by Languages@Strathclyde and focusing on the theme of employability.

The Living Languages Series is an opportunity to hear from high-profile guests, and early career graduates, from a variety of sectors, talking about the role languages have played, and continue to play, in their professional lives.

For this season, we are very pleased to introduce a very exciting list of guests who will share their experiences of using languages in a professional setting. For each event, the relaxed conversation format will also allow audience participation.

Living Languages 2025-26 Programme

Thursday 23rd October, 5.30pm – Shaping Afro-Gael Identity: Cò Sinn? (Who are we?)

In conversation with Cass Ezeji, artist and Gaelic speaker.

Monday 24th November 5.30pm – Where are they now in 2025 ? Stories from recent graduates

In conversation with Tsara Mirza Reina (Harper Macleod LLP)​, Alice Green (Ian Macleod Distillers-Edinburgh Gin)​ and
Freya Young (Outside the Box Development Support + Southside Housing Association)

Monday 2nd February, 5.30pm – A conversation with James Albon, illustrator and graphic novelist and the owners of La belle adventure bookshop

Tickets available via the Alliance Française Glasgow website or scan the QR code on the event flyer

All tickets are free and you will get the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the conversation.

Join us for a series of very special evenings !

The Organising Committee for LLS 25-26 is Francesca Perazio, Raquel Martinez Martin, Victoria Reina-Gil, Joan-Emilie Lefever, Cédric Moreau, Lucie Piochaud-Prévost

7 November 2025 (Languages Week Scotland)

Join us from 2 – 6 February 2026 to celebrate Languages Week Scotland. The theme is Diverse Voices, Common Ground, and it will be an opportunity to celebrate language learning and multilingualism in Scotland. Look out for events taking place across the country!  

Languages enable us to explore our differences and appreciate our shared stories, through our many tongues, and everyone is welcome to participate in Languages Week Scotland: educational establishments, community-based groups, arts and sports organisations, social enterprises, and businesses of all sizes.   

Visit our website to find out what's happening and to join in! Languages Week Scotland is also on Instagram - look out for lots of exciting content over the next few months!

Read more...

25 September 2025 (Seachdain na Gàidhlig | World Gaelic Week)

Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week), will take place Monday 23 February to Sunday 1 March 2026.

This year’s theme is 'Cleachd i no caill i' (Use it or lose it), and we’d be delighted if you would join us in celebrating Gaelic across Scotland and around the world.

Information sessions

If you’re curious about how to get involved, we are hosting free online sessions for anyone wishing to find out more about the week. Whether you’re planning an event, applying to the Small Grants Fund, or just want to learn what’s happening, these sessions are the best place to start.

Register here → Seisean fiosrachaidh • Information Session

Small Grants Fund

Thanks to continued support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig, our Small Grants Fund is open once again. Awards of up to £500 are available to support projects and events taking place during Seachdain na Gàidhlig 2026. Applications should show how they reflect this year’s theme.

• Deadline: Friday 31 October 2025
• Read the guidance
• Apply online

Schools programme

We’ll once again be offering a series of free, interactive online sessions for schools. These have proved hugely popular, with thousands of pupils taking part each year. Teachers can find details and book via our website. 

Stay connected

Our posts will be over on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter and Instagram (@sngaidhlig) - we’d really appreciate if you could give them a share/like and use #SeachdainNaGàidhlig2026. 

Our website is now fully updated with resources, ideas, and this year’s theme. We’d encourage you to take a look, download materials, and share them with your networks.

• Visit the website
• Subscribe to our newsletter 

We very much hope you’ll be part of Seachdain na Gàidhlig 2026 - whether by hosting an event, taking part in our schools programme, or spreading the word in your community.

25 September 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 some example videos here:

1. Rosemary Pennells (British Embassy Tokyo) Y8/Y9)
2. Nerys Jones (British Embassy Berlin) Y10/11 Government Languages Outreach talk

The online events are free of charge, and it is hoped recordings of some of the events will be made available. To express interest, and help us keep in touch, please complete the form

We look forward to welcoming your pupils to our events.

Autumn term 2025

S4/S5: Wednesday 15 October 2025, 09:00-10:00

S4/S5: Tuesday 11 November 2025, 09:15-10:15

S2/S3: Thursday 20 November 2025, 09:00-10:00

Spring term 2026

S2/S3: Wednesday 14 January 2026, 09:00-10:00

S4/S5: Tuesday 20 January 2026, 09:00-10:00

S2/S3: Tuesday 10 February 2026, 09:15-10:15

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 (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 Language Ambassadors Online webpage and book via the Eventbrite link.

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...

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: Tue Jan 20th 2026 09:00-10:00

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