National Language Competition 2023 winners visit GCHQ

Held in November 2023, over 3000 teams of Year 9 students from across the UK took part in GCHQ’s annual National Language Competition (NLC), a virtual capture-the-flag style language competition where competitors work to solve language-based puzzles and score points.

To celebrate their victory, the winning team (Toby, Aidan, Jonty and Kelson from Swavesey Village College) were invited GCHQ to learn about the work of GCHQ Language Analysts, and to receive their trophy in a special presentation from Director, Anne Keast-Butler.

The day started with a presentation from the Director and senior GCHQ staff about how languages are at the heart of GCHQ’s work to protect the UK. They explained how our Language Analysts bring deep cultural, analytical, reporting and technical expertise to their work, so that we can maintain an awareness of what is going on in the world.

The students were then presented with the NLC 2023 trophy. Each student also received a personalised NLC winners coin and a signed copy of the GCHQ Puzzles for Spies book, to serve as a reminder of both the excellent effort they put into the competition, and as a special memento of their day with us.

Following the trophy presentation, the team were given a tour of the museum from our GCHQ Historian and the 24/7 operations centre, where they were shown how we respond around the clock to events across the world.

The students were also given the opportunity to meet a group of Language Analysts, who gave the pupils an outline of their diverse backgrounds, careers and paths to GCHQ. Our analysts highlighted that whether the students choose to study languages at school or university, or use the languages they might speak at home, there are many routes on offer towards an enriching career in languages.

The NLC 2024 will take place this year from 18-22 November 2024. To find out further information on how to register your interest, check out the NLC webpage or contact [email protected].