High-Flying Linguists
What is High-Flying Linguists?
High-Flying Linguists is a new schools鈥� outreach initiative proposed by the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at 神马福利影片 to support and inspire small groups of targeted language learners in Year 8 or Year 9 from schools in Coventry and Warwickshire. The programme will run for the same students across one full academic year with 1-2 events per term on campus. We believe that this new approach will create better outcomes for students and a more manageable way for us to measure the impact of our outreach efforts. The new programme will launch in the Autumn term of 2026.
UPDATE May 2026: We are delighted to confirm that the following 5 Coventry schools have been selected to work with us next academic year:
Finham Park 2, West Coventry Academy, Lyng Hall School, Ernesford Grange Academy, Sidney Stringer Academy
Our Goals
Programme aims
- To contribute towards raising the profile of languages in participating schools and promote MFL as a worthwhile GCSE option.
- To address inequalities in language learning opportunities.
- To enhance participating students鈥� confidence, motivation, and aspirations for future study and careers.
Objectives
- 100% retention: All participating students will continue studying a language at GCSE
- Boost engagement: Students will view language and intercultural learning as exciting, relevant, and career-enhancing. They will develop transferable skills: teamwork, communication, creativity, and digital literacy.
- Participants (50 total across 8-10 schools) will act as Language Ambassadors in their respective schools to promote languages to the wider school community.
Our recruitment and selection of schools and students
We will collaborate with five the selected schools to ensure that the pupils chosen (10 from each school) will attain the maximum benefit possible from the programme. We would also welcome input from school teaching staff, our own SMLC teaching staff and Student Ambassadors on the content of the programme. We advise that selected students should meet at least one of these criteria:
- Have a genuine interest and aptitude for languages.
- Listed on Pupil Premium registers and would benefit from the enrichment this opportunity will provide.
- Are unsure whether to choose languages at GCSE but would benefit from a push to do so.
- Are lacking in confidence and/or have low aspirations and would benefit from the boost and enthusiasm the programme will provide.
Timeline
鈬� December 2025: Creation of website 鈥淗igh-Flying Linguists鈥�
鈬� January 2026: Promotion of the programme to selected schools who already regularly engage with us.
鈬� Invitation to an online information session and Q&A end of February 2026. Invitation to collaborate on structure of programme (school staff and university staff, SMLC Student Ambassadors).
鈬� May 2026: Schools will select and recruit students to the programme by the with a set of selection criteria provided by the SMLC. 10 students selected per school, a total of 50 students to take part. Places confirmed by the end of June.
Our proposed programme structure
Option A: Focus on Year 9
| Phase | Timeline | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Launch and Learning Day 1 |
14 October 2026 |
Introductory event for Year 9 students |
| Learning Day 2 |
20 January 2027 |
Cross-curricular workshops |
| Learning Day 3 |
17 March 2027 |
Language challenge and cultural immersion |
| Event 4 |
June 2027 |
Language Challenge and celebration at Finham Park 2 |
Option B: Focus on Year 8
| Phase | Timeline | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Launch in Year 8 |
December 2026 | Introductory event for Year 8 students |
| Event 1 and 2 | February-April 2027 | Cross-curricular workshops |
| Event 3 | June 2027 | Language challenge and cultural immersion |
| Event 4 | October of Year 9 |
Language Challenge and celebration |
The final programme structure (option A) will run from October 2026. Across all proposed events, students will engage with Warwick staff and our SMLC undergraduate students as near peer learners. Programme activities will link languages with several cross curricular areas, enabling students to improve their transferable skills of teamwork and communication. The following suggested themes for activity days align with the latest government response to where breadth is a key driver.
- Film and performance
- Literature and story telling
- Sustainability and the environment
- Business and marketing
- Digital media and technology
- Challenges to learn 鈥渘ew鈥� languages including languages taught in the SMLC (Korean, Japanese, Arabic) as well as BSL.
Our evaluation process
We plan to have two main evaluation points:
- Launch Event (baseline confidence, motivation, GCSE intentions)
- Final Event (impact assessment: uptake, confidence, aspirations)
Metrics: % of students choosing GCSE MFL
- Confidence and motivation scores (pre/post surveys)
- Qualitative feedback from students and teachers