Celebrating 10 Years of Bolton’s Modern Foreign Language Hub

Over the past ten years the development of Subject Hubs has been a real strength of our partnership. We asked Emma Lyon, the hub lead for MFL since it’s inception, to reflect on the impact of the work that she has led.

‘As an enthusiastic advocate for language learning, I have had the privilege of leading the dynamic Bolton MFL Hub for the last 10 years, focused on enhancing the teaching and learning of modern foreign languages within our educational community. In this leadership role

I prioritise collaboration, innovation, and fostering a passion for languages in both students and teachers. I have worked to create an inspiring environment where teachers and students alike feel motivated to explore languages. By developing a collaborative network, one of our keys aims is to share best practices in language teaching and provide professional growth opportunities for teachers. This includes organising workshops, training sessions, and cross-school collaborations to foster continuous improvement in teaching methods.

We run an annual Translation Competition across the Borough as well as cultural competitions such as creating masks or posters promoting international education. I emphasise ongoing professional development for teachers, encouraging reflective practice and staying up-to-date with the latest trends in language education. Over the past few years I have organised CPD conferences with leads in our profession such as Gianfranco Conti, Kim Wells, Kate Languages, Joe Dale, Helen Myers and Jennifer Wozniak-Rush.

Leading the MFL Hub has been a highly rewarding experience. It has reinforced my belief in the transformative power of language education, and I am proud to contribute to a thriving community of educators and learners who are passionate about making languages an integral part of their academic journey. Looking forward, I remain committed to expanding the reach of our hub, promoting linguistic diversity, and helping to shape future global citizens who are linguistically and culturally aware.’

Bolton Learning Partnership would like to thank Emma for her outstanding contribution to the collaborative power of the partnership…and here’s to the next ten years. Salut!