The message is simple: we live and breathe languages — through networks, communication and community, outreach, and inclusion of AI, connecting schools, universities, and the world of work, building international bridges. Spread the word. It was truly inspiring to see and hear such a fantastic group of speakers come together for this discussion on the language education landscape in the North-West. The exchange of ideas highlighted new ways of working collaboratively to help make the North-West a genuinely multilingual region. We explored key questions: What challenges and opportunities do we face? How can schools and higher education work together to nurture both new and existing language skills? And how can we best accredit these skills to benefit students? Shaping a multilingual future …
… where languages don’t divide but connect us. Insights from the Language Event
The speaker line-up included Jo Code (Headteacher, St Hilda’s CE High School), Michael Cummings (Head of MFL, St Hilda’s CE High School), Claudia d’Agostino (Languages for All), Ian Ellison (The Languages Gateway and University of Oxford), Gill Rowlands (SIL – formerly School Improvement Liverpool), Anna Saunders (University of Liverpool), and dedicated Saturday School teachers. With strong partners and meaningful collaboration, we are building new bridges towards a linguistic future — almost like creating a new Tower of Babel, not defined by confusion, but by understanding, connection, and shared voices across languages.
Why strong pedagogy and authentic experiences can sustainably transform success in foreign language learning
Pedagogy and Purpose: What We Can Learn from the Success Story of St Hilda’s CoE High School, Liverpool
At this year’s language conference, we had the pleasure of attending a fascinating presentation delivered by Mrs Jo Code, Headteacher of St Hilda’s Church of England High School in Liverpool. Located on Croxteth Drive near Sefton Park, St Hilda’s is a thriving co-educational secondary school with a sixth form that has become a remarkable example of how a clear vision for language learning can transform student engagement and achievement. Mrs Code’s presentation, “Pedagogy – The Golden Thread?”, was both inspiring and thought-provoking. It highlighted how strong pedagogical foundations, combined with meaningful real-world opportunities, can create a culture where language learning flourishes. 
Building Confidence Through Strong Pedagogy
Drawing on the work of Dr Gianfranco Conti and Steve Smith, Mrs Code explained how the school has moved away from a traditional textbook-led approach towards a curriculum built around high-frequency language, sentence builders, and carefully sequenced knowledge. The focus is simple but powerful: give students the tools they need to communicate successfully from the very beginning. This approach has had a significant impact on student confidence, particularly among vulnerable learners. As Mrs Code emphasised, students are not simply learning about the language—they are actively speaking it.
The results are impressive:
- Increased student engagement
- Greater confidence in language lessons
- Strong support for learners of all abilities
- MFL uptake rising from 36 % in 2022 to 50 % in 2025
These figures demonstrate what can happen when pedagogy is treated as the “golden thread” running through every aspect of teaching and learning.
Making Language Learning Real
One of the most memorable parts of the presentation focused on the importance of authentic experiences. Mrs Code shared numerous examples of how St Hilda’s brings language learning to life beyond the classroom:
- PASCH summer courses in Germany, with scholarship funding worth €5,000 per student
- Participation in the German Careers Roadshow through the Goethe-Institut
- Workshops with visiting artists from Germany
- Annual football camps with FC St Pauli and FC Augsburg
- Leadership opportunities through work with local primary schools
- Residential trips that immerse students in language and culture
These opportunities allow students to see the practical value of languages and understand how language skills can open doors to future study, careers, and international experiences.
More Than a School Subject
What struck me most during Mrs Code’s presentation was the school’s commitment to creating genuine enthusiasm for languages. Every opportunity, whether in the classroom or beyond it, is carefully linked back to the wider purpose of language learning. Students are encouraged to see themselves not just as learners of German or French, but as confident communicators and global citizens.The presentation was a powerful reminder that successful language education is about far more than examination results. It is about creating experiences that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and help young people connect with the wider world.
A Model Worth Celebrating
Mrs Code’s presentation offered an excellent example of what can be achieved when strong pedagogy, ambitious leadership, and meaningful enrichment opportunities come together. The success of St Hilda’s demonstrates that when students are given both the knowledge and the opportunity to use a language in authentic contexts, engagement grows, confidence flourishes, and language learning becomes truly transformative. As language educators, there is much we can learn from this approach—and much to celebrate in the achievements of the students and staff at St Hilda’s Church of England High School. The growing popularity of language learning demonstrates what is possible when schools invest in both strong pedagogical foundations and enriching cultural opportunities. The golden thread is not simply the curriculum itself—it is the consistent commitment to helping students see themselves as successful language learners and global citizens.
When students are given the knowledge, confidence, and opportunities to use a language in meaningful ways, language learning becomes more than an academic subject. It becomes a transformative experience.
#LanguageLearning #MFL #GermanTeaching #Pedagogy #Education #LanguageEducation #GoetheInstitut #StudentSuccess #TeachingAndLearning #GlobalCitizenship
follow this link for the presentation.
Many thanks to Mrs Jo Code for sharing such an insightful and inspiring presentation. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the innovative work taking place at St Hilda’s and to reflect on how strong pedagogy can serve as the golden thread connecting every aspect of successful language learning.