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Translating passion for languages into national success

A record-breaking 25,000-plus students tested their translation skills to the limit as many of the UK’s brightest talents bucked the trend for a nationwide decline in language learning.

Employers increasingly view multi-lingual recruits as key to driving new business, boosting productivity and broadening reach.

But the majority of young people are entering the job market without a second language — one of the most coveted skills in an increasingly global economy.

The Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators seeks to redress the balance and for the sixth successive year it successfully brought together young people with a shared passion for exploring diverse languages, cultures and communities.

A bumper entry of secondary school pupils aged 11-18 at UK schools and British schools overseas set about translating texts from six different languages.

And competition organisers at the Queen’s Translation Exchange, based at the University of Oxford, insist more must be done to support pupils and teachers determined to make modern languages popular again.

“For six years we’ve seen more and more young people engage with the Anthea Bell Prize,” said Charlotte Ryland, Director of QTE. “There’s clearly an enthusiasm for languages that we need to encourage.

“Teachers and pupils recognise the opportunity to broaden their horizons and better understand the creative and cultural impact of learning languages. And employers often talk about the value of language skills in the workplace.

“The Anthea Bell Prize meets a real need for a different approach to languages and it’s inspiring to see so many students, teachers and their schools get on board.

“It’s vital that we redress the balance between the demand for language learning and the reported decline in students sitting GCSE and A Level exams.”

Students were tasked with translating French (into English and Welsh), Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin and Russian texts.

And a team of 36 judges, including professional literary translators and Oxford Modern Languages students, assessed more than 5,400 entries.

“The standard of entries was incredibly high and choosing the regional and national winners was a tough task,” added Charlotte.

“What’s clear is that our young people absolutely love taking part in the Anthea Bell Prize and we need to find a way to translate that enthusiasm into a lifelong passion for languages.”

The Anthea Bell Prize, named in honour of the celebrated Asterix translator, saw entries surge by more than 500 compared to 2025.

Schools taking part in the largest competition of its kind in the country ­received free access to a suite of innovative resources, with Russian included for the second successive year.

The rise in engagement comes as language education faces significant challenges.

Languages have been identified as needing urgent intervention under the UK’s current Curriculum and Assessment Review.

And Charlotte added: “The popularity of the Anthea Bell Prize indicates that creative, cultural content is the key to increasing uptake and attainment in languages.

“We need to ensure languages classrooms are exciting and vibrant spaces where students want to learn.”

Schools can register for the 2027 Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators here.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Rushworth .