Four of our impressive language students excel in the prestigious Anthea Bell Translation Competition
We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of several students who have been recognised in the prestigious Anthea Bell Translation Competition. With more than 25,000 students taking part across the UK in 2026, earning a commendation or winning an award is an exceptional accomplishment and reflects a high level of linguistic skill, creativity and cultural understanding.
The competition, which is organised by the Queen’s College Translation Exchange, encourages young linguists to engage with authentic literary texts and develop their translation skills. Participants are challenged to produce translations that not only convey the meaning of the original text but also capture its style, tone and literary qualities.
We are particularly pleased to congratulate three students who received Anthea Bell commendations for the outstanding quality of their submissions:
- Annabel (Year 9) received a commendation in Level 2 German for her translation of an extract from Die Burg by Gina Mayer.
- Nidee (Year 11) received a commendation in Level 4 Mandarin for her translation of 《嘛呢石，静静地敲》by Pema Tseden (万玛才旦).
- Inés (Lower 6) received a commendation in Level 4 Spanish for her translation of Escrito con L by Gonzalo Rojas. This was a double celebration for Ines who Inés also won the German Olympiad 2026 run by Oxford University in the summer.
An especially warm congratulations goes to Vaanika (Year 9), who was not only named the Greater London Regional Winner in Level 2 French for her translation of Déclaration des droits de la femme et de la citoyenne by Olympe de Gouges, but also proceeded to be named National Runner-Up in the next round – a remarkable achievement!
These successes demonstrate the talent, dedication and enthusiasm for languages shown by our students. Translation requires not only excellent linguistic knowledge but also creativity, sensitivity to culture and careful attention to detail. We are incredibly proud of all those recognised in this year’s competition and congratulate them on their outstanding achievements.
Languages at LEH
We believe that mastering languages is more than an academic achievement; it’s a gateway to the world. Our rich and supportive language programme empowers pupils to communicate with confidence in new languages. As their fluency grows, so does their ability to connect, collaborate and think across cultures, skills that are vital in a globalised world.
Language lessons at LEH are designed to challenge and inspire. They nurture resilience, adaptability and self-assurance, while complementing every other subject from the Humanities to the Sciences. Through languages, students gain deeper insight into global issues, international perspectives, and their place in a broader world.
