Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages is open registrations for FREE events and activities for children and young people aged 3-18 running from January until 31st March. This year has the biggest selection of activities open to UK schools that has ever been offered.
Create your own Festival programme! Pick and mix from a range of FREE classroom activities and live events, as well as competitions and celebrations and a range of free resources.
Maximise the opportunities for children and young people (3-18) in your school and inspire a future generation of linguists and global citizens.
Click here to download the UK Schools’ Programme with information about activities open to UK schools and links to activity pages and Festival information.
Scroll down to see the full UK programme.
Festival participation can support applications for the British Council International School Award, as well as Schools of Sanctuary work, embracing the languages, cultures and traditions of all pupils, celebrating multiculturalism and multilingualism.
Classroom activities for ages 3-16 with teaching resources: Available January to March 2026
Spanish Cinema in the Classroom (KS4-5) Available 6 January to 31 March
For KS4-5 UK schools: Teachers can access recent Spanish films for classroom screenings. English subtitles and teaching guides provided to ensure pupils’ Spanish learning is enhanced through this engaging and motivating activity.
Ursa Lingua’s Castle Quest Escape Room Adventure Available 6 Jan-31 Mar
For KS2 7-11 years, UK schools: Help polar bear, Ursa Lingua, escape the castle using the power of languages and the magic of teamwork! An exciting language adventure with interactive resources.
Multilingual Me: Exploring and celebrating languages in pupils’ lives (KS2) 6 Jan-31 March
For UK primary schools (KS2): Lesson and materials to help pupils’ explore languages, celebrate linguistic diversity and learn about multilingualism and migration in the context of their classroom and community.
Stories from around the world – Food on Film activities (ages 5-15) Available 6 Jan-31 March
NE and UK schools (ages 5-15): Access 3 short films, revealing different cultures, communities and languages whilst exploring underlying themes that unite us all through the culinary language of food. With teaching resources.
6 Primary French lessons: World Cup 2026 (Y5-6, Y7) Available 6 Jan-31 March
For NE and UK primary schools (Y5-6) and KS2-3 transition: Enthuse pupils to explore French with 6 creative lessons themed around the World Cup. Includes pre-recorded videos, powerpoint and lesson plans.
Exploring and celebrating indigenous African languages (KS1-4) Available 6 Jan-31 March
For UK schools and groups (5-16 years): Teaching resources and interactive activities to run in a classroom, youth group or community workshop introducing 4 indigenous African languages: Yoruba, Swahili, Tamazight, Xhosa
Afro-Ecuadorian Fairytales resources (English/Spanish) Available 6 Jan-31 March
For UK schools, youth and community groups: Resources in English and Spanish bringing Afro-Ecuadorian fairytales to life, learning about the importance of traditions and knowledge in different cultures.
Fun with Japanese interactive activities for children (5-11 years) Available 6 Jan-31 March
For children UK-wide (KS1-3): A simple and fun introduction to Japanese for all pupils and community groups or families with children aged 5-11. A series of short videos online plus a calligraphy workshop.
Multilingual digital stories -5 films made by children Available 6 Jan-31 March
For UK primary, secondary, community schools & groups: Share short multilingual digital stories created by children and young people aged 7–14 in a range of languages, with English subtitles. Teacher guide provided.
Fun with Felix and Franzi (KS1-2) lessons with German Available 6 Jan-31 March
UK schools KS1-2: Puppets Felix and Franzi engage children in singing songs, completing challenges and playing games in German. With teaching resources and lessons. No knowledge of German needed.
Live online events in March
Modern Languages in the Working World webinar with Sanako UK 9.30-10.15am on 2nd March
NE & UK schools Y8-Y9: Join David Binns for an inspirational careers talk for students, stressing the importance of a second language skill in any chosen career and encouraging GCSE take-up.
Spanish language and careers webinar with Spanish Embassy Education Office 9.30-10.15am on 3rd March
NE & UK secondary schools/6th forms: Inspire pupils to progress with Spanish and find out about the benefits of learning languages and the future opportunities learning Spanish brings.
Lingua Cub’s French Fun! 4 online sessions: 9.30-10am Wednesdays 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th March
For UK schools (ages 3-7): Join four fun-filled online French sessions with Lingua Cub’s playful activities, songs and games. Activity pack provided. Set of recordings available (end March)
Languages at Work webinar: Careers and language challenge 9.30-10.30am on 5th March
NE and UK schools (KS3 Y8-Y9): Motivational session with professional linguists. Sharing career insights and running live language challenges in French, German and Spanish.
Lingua Cub’s Super Spanish! 4 online sessions: 9.30-10am on Fridays 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th March
For UK schools (ages 3-7): Join Lingua Cub for four lively online Spanish sessions. Discover Spanish with fun games, songs and interactive activities. Activity pack and recordings available
Languages and careers in football webinar with Pierce Kiembi, Futbol Lingo (KS2-5) 10.30-11.15am on 6th March
NE & UK schools (KS2-5): Join Futbol Lingo’s motivational webinar, using football to inspire a generation of future linguists and open perspectives on the range of careers in football.
Wuschel online primary German sessions (KS1-2) 9.30-10.15am on 9th and 16th March
For UK schools KS1-2: Join Wuschel the friendly alien for fun-filled live sessions, with catchy songs, challenges and games, linked to ‘Wuschel auf der Erde’, illustrated by Axel Scheffler.
#LetAfghanGirlsLearn! Webinar for 11-18 year olds 12-12.45 10th March
For 11-18 year olds (UK wide): Share the experiences of Afghan girls, their fight for education and what pupils in the UK can do to support them. Education pack provided.
Bilingual poetry (French/English) with Michaël Vidon KS4-5 9.30-10.15am 12th March online
For UK schools KS4-5 French learners: Join Michaël for a stimulating, interactive bilingual poetry session in French and English. Teaching resources provided and recording available.
Ursa Lingua’s French Feast KS2 live lesson 9.30-10.15am 17th March online (UK – unlimited)
For UK schools KS2: Join Ursa Lingua the language bear for a fun-filled online French lesson. Children will explore French through games, challenges and feast-themed activities. With activity pack. Recording available.
Ursa Lingua’s Spanish Surprise KS2 live lesson online 9.30-10.15am 19th March
For UK schools KS2: Join Ursa Lingua the language bear for a fun-filled online Spanish lesson. Children will explore French through games, challenges and feast-themed activities. With activity pack. Recording available.
Where can languages take me? Careers webinar 9.00-9.45am on 26th March
NE & UK schools Year 8-9: Inspire pupils to choose languages at GCSE with professionals sharing their language learning journeys, skills and how they use languages in their work.
Festival and UK competitions and celebrations
Karneval Mask Competition for NE/UK schools (KS2-4) 6th January to 6th March
For NE and UK schools (KS2-4): Pupils will celebrate Germany’s most colourful and joyful festival and design their own Karneval mask. Resources provided. NE/UK winners in each key stage.
German Week 19-24 January UK primary and secondary schools
UK schools can take part in a week long celebration of German language and culture. Age-appropriate resources, events and activities available to registered primary and secondary schools.
JaLaChamp 2026 (Japanese) Open Nov 2025 to March 2026
For UK primary and secondary learners of Japanese. The 2026 theme is ‘My favourite sandwiches’. Speech and video categories. Finals day on 20th June in London. Guidance and downloads.
World Children’s Haiku Contest UK-wide, submissions by 28 Feb
For under 15 year-olds: Compose your own haiku with accompanying artwork by 28th February for a chance to win prizes. Individual and school entries welcome.
Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators (deadline 27 Mar)
UK schools register to access creative translation teaching resources in French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish. Competition tasks released 2 Feb, deadline 27 Mar.
French Pop Video Competition 2026 (deadline May 2026)
Open to UK schools with three age categories (7-11, 12-15, 16-18). Schools register Feb/March and submit videos of original songs in French by May, with Award Ceremony in London in June.
Celebrate Speaking! UK schools 1st-28th February 2025
UK schools: Practice and celebrate a language your students learn or use in their community and take part in the virtual festival of speaking in by sharing performances online.
Joutes oratoires lycéennes (6th forms) Regional Feb, final March
UK 6th forms: French debating competition around current topics, building confidence and critical thinking. Regional heats to February and Final in London on 24th March with prizes.
Multilingual Verses Entries open with various deadlines to 2027
UK schools: Share your children’s multilingual texts, verses and nursery rhymes and encourage family involvement and intergenerational learning. Entries and resources are shared.
World Speech Day Japan 21st March 2026
All ages: World Speech Day Japan is an opportunity for young people to share their thoughts with the world in Japanese (for students learning Japanese) and in English (for Japanese students learning English).
Language and cultural resources and support available anytime
ENACT Around the World Club packs
UK and worldwide schools can set up their own Around the World Clubs with free resources, Children and young people can learn about different languages and cultures, while doing hands-on activities.
Around the World Education Packs from British Council
Explore a selection of British Council’s Education Packs with specially designed lessons and resources for schools linked to different countries and cultures across the world.
British Council languages support for schools
Access a wide range of language resources designed to help introduce and support language learning and teaching, as well as support for international links and the International School Award.
Association for Language Learning and ALLNE
Discover how ALL represents and supports language teachers, professional development and the development of policy. Find out about the NE Branch and the North East secondary Network.
National Consortium for Languages Education
National programme supporting language education in England, with LEO online professional learning platform, language networks, priority projects and CPD webinars.
European Centre for Modern Languages
Classroom resources and publications in multiple languages are available free to support teachers. Available from this Council of Europe supported website.
