WP352 Heritage language schools in Cambridge

In Cambridge, there is a well-developed network of community heritage language schools that are dedicated to the teaching and learning of some of the many minority languages spoken by children and their families.  This type of school exists all around the country. Although some of the languages are organised in national or even international associations, and a few schools are supported or run entirely by embassies, generally they operate in isolation and are neither aware of other local schools for other home languages nor do they cooperate with each other.  Thanks to Cambridge Bilingual Group’s 12-year history, the situation is different in Cambridge, where there are about 30 schools of which about 25 regularly meet and interact. This activist report draws on two surveys – one covering the academic year 2022/23 and one for 2024/25 – and it provides a glimpse into the deeper workings of community heritage language schools, their values, their managers, teachers and beneficiaries, their governance and funding, their internal and external impact.