We are encouraging Newcastle schools to enable their pupils to get involved in one or more of the national language competitions happening from Autumn 2025. Participating in a range of different activities is a wonderful way to bring excitement and fun into the languages curriculum. They also spark conversations and discussions within schools about the importance of language learning and the rich diversity of languages and cultures across our school communities.
Read on to find out more about 5 national language competitions taking place in the Autumn and follow the links for further information about each. You can also find out more about support for language teaching and learning as part of Newcastle City of Languages and the Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages (January to March 2026).
European Day of Languages (September)
European Day of Languages activities take place in and around 26th September. The 2025 European wide theme is ‘Languages open hearts and minds’. Click here to find out more, plus resources and activities.
The Association of Language Learning North East runs an annual writing competition, the details of which will be shared in the coming months.
Anthea Bell Prize for young translators (September)
The Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators is a UK-wide creative translation competition for students aged 11-18 studying French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish. The 2025-2026 Prize will launch in September 2025.
Register here to receive updates about the Prize, as well as access to free creative translation teaching resources. Click here for more information.
Poésíae and Poésíært (deadline October)
These competitions are for 7-18 year olds and the in house competition submissions have to be in by 20th October, certificates for all submissions. Finalists announced on 27th October.
Poésíae: Recitation of poems in different languages (set poems or chosen poems) Click here to find out more. Poésíært is an opportunity to use Languages for a cross-curricular activity but also for the less confident or multi-talented pupils to find a different medium to express their understanding of the poem(s) the Language teachers choose. Prizes will be awarded for the best ones in each category from Y3 to Y13. Click here to find out more.
GCHQ National Language Competition (November)
GCHQ aims to inspire language learning by encouraging students to discover their aptitude for learning languages. Their 2025 competition will take place from Monday 17 November to Friday 21 November.
The National Language Competition is a virtual competition for teams of UK 13-14 year olds competing against each other to solve language-based challenges and score points. Overall winners are invited to GCHQ Cheltenham to receive their trophy. Click here for more information
World Haiku Contest for under 15s (October-February)
The World Children’s Haiku Contest aims to spread the joy of haiku creation to children worldwide, nurture their sensitivity, and deepen their understanding of Japanese culture, which has given birth to haiku. Held every two years, the contest invites children under 15 from Japan and around the world to submit works composed of both drawings and haiku. Children create a 3-line poem with a drawing.
- Japanese: 1 June -30 September 2025
- Other languages: 1 October 2025-28 February 2026
- Click here to find out more
- Click here for submission guidelines
Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages 2026
93,798 children and young people from 428 schools participated in our most recent Festival from January to March 2025. International Newcastle co-ordinates the festival on behalf of the region, working with a wide range of local, regional and national partners to offer free, fun and engaging activities.
We hope to run the Festival again in 2026 and will publicise details in the Autumn for schools, groups and community schools in Northumberland, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Durham, Gateshead and Sunderland.
If we are going ahead, we will share the Festival programme and open for bookings in November 2025, for activities from early January to 31st March 2026.
For updates, follow the Festival on social media: twitter/X, facebook and instagram
Newcastle City of Languages support for schools
Newcastle City of Languages is a partnership approach led by International Newcastle, working with the City Council School Effectiveness team and a wide range of partners locally, regionally and nationally to support language teaching, learning, take up and progression in Newcastle. Click here to find out more about the support available for teachers and schools in Newcastle.
Teachers can also sign up to join the Newcastle Primary Language Teachers Hub or the North East Secondary Language Teacher Network by contacting sarah.edgar@newcastle.gov.uk, which share information, opportunities, learning and good practice across the city. Both networks have padlets (online platforms) with regular updates on language related events, CPD and opportunities.