If we want to save language learning in the UK, we need to back the North and Midlands.
As this year’s GCSE are underway and talks remain around how language uptake is falling nationwide 1, a new study by Preply reveals that the North and Midland lead a quiet resurgence. The South continues to lead on overall academic results, but it’s Northern and Midland students who are driving interest in languages.
Counties like East Riding of Yorkshire, Merseyside, and Cumbria top the charts for entries in French, Spanish, and German respectively; with Northern regions accounting for 9 of the top 13 counties for overall language GCSE uptake across the 10 available subjects.
Here’s the twist: the very accents often stereotyped (Scouse, Geordie, Brummie) may be helping students succeed, according to the new study. This isn’t just a trend, but a call to action. If the future of language learning lies in the North and Midlands, it’s time we invest in, celebrate, and support the students keeping it alive.
Breaking down the uptake: The language leaders are in the North
Nationally, language subject uptake remains low, and the downward trend has sparked concern across the education sector. Preply broke the data down regionally, emerging a different picture:
Out of the top counties for GCSE uptake in French, German and Spanish, the vast majority are from these regions:
- French: Top counties include East Riding of Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland and Leicester.
- German: Cumbria, Derbyshire and Herefordshire lead the way.
- Spanish: Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Tyne and Wear dominate.
In a wider analysis of uptake across all 10 GCSE language subjects, West Yorkshire, Durham and South Yorkshire hold the highest rankings. Out of the top 13 counties, 9 are from the North, 1 from the Midlands, and only 3 from the South.
Anna Pyshna, spokesperson for Preply, provides insights into the findings:
“This regional trend comes at a time when performance disparities across the country remain stark. In 2024, London continued to outperform the rest of the UK, while the North East recorded the lowest level of top GCSE grades. Most concerning, all regions experienced a decline in students achieving a grade 4 or above, with the West Midlands, already the lowest-performing region in 2023, seeing the steepest fall 2.
Yet paradoxically, the very regions that are negatively impacted by the North-South divide and rank low in league tables 1 are emerging as leaders in language learning. Remarkably, the West Midlands, despite being the lowest-performing region overall, represents the Midlands’ sole entry among the top 13 counties for language uptake. This striking contrast presents a valuable opportunity for both educators and policymakers.”
Why this matters: Support the students keeping languages alive
Anna Pyshna explains: “With uptake falling nationwide, it is vital that we acknowledge and support the students who are keeping language learning alive, especially when they’re doing so in areas facing other significant educational disadvantages 2.
This moment calls for greater investment in language provision in the North and Midlands. These students are not just bucking national trends, but are our best hope for reversing them.”
Accent bias and phonetic advantage: A hidden superpower?
The Northern and Midlands regions may be uniquely equipped to succeed in language learning due to a surprising factor: their accents.
In the UK, regional accents have long been subject to bias, with associations ranging from lack of intelligence to criminality. A recent 2025 study reinforced these stereotypes, showing that non-standard accents are still often unfairly linked to negative traits 3.
Anna Pyshna explains: “Our study reveals that these same accents might offer distinct phonetic advantages when it comes to learning foreign languages. Because regional accents tend to be rich in unique sounds, rhythms, and speech patterns, students raised with them may develop heightened auditory perception and phonetic sensitivity – key skills for language acquisition and ultimately, increased interest in language learning.”
Preply also sought the expertise of linguist Melissa Baerse Berk, who confirms: “Phonetic awareness is a key factor in helping to pronounce words in foreign languages, especially at the earliest stages of learning. Listeners might be able to better hear the nuances present in speech and may then be better able to produce those differences.”
A few examples:
- Scouse: The rolled ‘r’ aligns closely with the trilled ‘r’ in Spanish, Italian, and Russian.
- Geordie: Features like the glottal stop are common in languages like Hebrew, Tagalog, and Danish.
- Brummie: A flatter tone may make it easier to pick up languages with more consistent intonation patterns, like Finnish or Russian.
- Glaswegian: Its syllable stress and guttural tones match languages like German and Dutch.
Changing the narrative in education
Anna Pyshna urges us to flip the script: “It’s time to rethink the assumptions we make about regional voices. These accents are not barriers, but are assets. In a country that has historically prized Received Pronunciation and standard English, recognising the linguistic value of regional speech is an overdue shift in mindset.
We must support language learning in schools and celebrate the cultural and phonetic diversity of the students leading the charge. This includes challenging the accent and social biases that still permeate classrooms, media, and job markets.”
A call to action for educators
Preply recommends that policymakers and educators take this data into consideration to help improve and promote language learning uptake:
- Spot & support early interest by looking out for students, particularly in Year 8, who show enthusiasm for languages, especially in regions already outperforming in uptake.
- Invest in phonetic and oral-based teaching that leverages students’ natural speech skills as a strength rather than a weakness.
- Lobby for funding where interest exists by encouraging school leaders and local authorities to direct resources where uptake is growing, not just where performance is highest. Interest without access is a missed opportunity.
Anna Pyshna concludes: “In today’s interconnected world, languages open doors to careers, cultures, and confidence. If we’re serious about equipping the next generation with these tools, we must look beyond national averages and league tables. We must look to where the real passion lies – in the classrooms of West Yorkshire, Durham, the West Midland, and Merseyside.
The North and Midlands are holding on to languages. It’s time we matched their commitment with support, investment and pride.”
For further insights, or if you’re interested in including any information provided, please kindly link back to Preply: https://preply.com/en/blog/northern-uk-accents-language-learning/
