Blog: The National Consortium for Languages Education: leading languages for the future
The National Consortium for Languages Education (NCLE) has launched a new operating model to support language teachers across the country, including LEO: the new, free online CPD platform.
Bernardette Holmes, NCLE Director, sets out the vision for NCLE and how this translates to our work.
Written by Bernardette Holmes MBE, NCLE Director
The NCLE supports the mission-led government in its intention to break down barriers of opportunity for all children and young people. We believe that languages education is transformative and plays a crucial role in raising aspirations and developing the potential of every child.
Language learning is the passport to opportunity and ambition. Studies show that students (of any subject, not just languages) who study or train abroad enjoy significantly higher earnings, better employability, and confidence in their future careers. (Erasmus Plus Impact Study, 2014).
But too few of our young people get the opportunity to experience what life is like abroad, or even study another language and culture at school. This is especially true in state schools and in disadvantaged communities (British Council, 2024).
A new push to re-energise languages leadership in our schools
Building on the success of our Language Hubs Programme – independently evaluated as providing ‘invaluable’ and ‘tangible’ benefits – NCLE is leading a new phase of professional learning, extending the reach of our work with schools across the country.
We aim to reshape languages leadership and support the next generation of language teachers and learners through our new operational model made up of three mutually reinforcing strands:
- Language Educators Online (LEO), our free online professional learning platform
- Our Language Networks, language-focussed Strategic Learning Networks led by schools, and
- Our NPPs (national priority projects), addressing regional and local needs.
Developing teacher agency
The LEO CPD platform removes barriers to accessing high quality CPD. Access to LEO is free at point of use. It is designed to be flexible, inclusive, and readily adapted to different contexts, providing professional learning whenever teachers want, wherever they want, and in the order they want.
It encourages teachers to develop their agency, refresh their professional knowledge and skills, and strengthen their languages leadership, relevant to their particular circumstances.
Local and national communities of practice
We recognise that professional learning is strengthened by facilitation through communities of practice.
Our Language Networks are there to connect teachers, providing professional learning through LEO and bespoke webinars responding to current priorities and interests at local, regional, and national levels. By joining a local Language Network, teachers can share ideas, develop and test innovative new approaches, keep abreast of changes in policy, and find practical solutions to challenges in a collaborative space with other teachers.
Research-informed, evidence-based practice from contemporary classrooms
Each Language Network will be developing a specific project of local and national relevance. These National Priority Projects will drive change through research-informed reflexive practice and evidence from classroom actions led by leading teachers. Each project will feed into the future development of LEO as the online meeting place for knowledge exchange and advanced professional learning.
Individual projects will reflect DfE priorities, articulating the vision of languages education developed by NCLE and leveraging UCL Institute of Education’s world-leading research base, while grounded in the strategic needs of schools at local and regional levels.
An example of a National Priority Project:
Grand Union Language Network’s project is titled ‘Modelling motivation – deep dive into curriculum planning’ and will be examining curriculum models and their impact on student motivation.
Working with several local schools with different curricula and contexts, Grand Union will produce case studies by collating and analysing quantitative and qualitative data (including policies and processes, pupil, parent and staff voices, student data, lesson observations, and GCSE/A level uptake). This will include impact assessments made of different curriculum models on student motivation as well as the financial and logistical implications for the school. The case studies will be made freely available on the LEO Platform.
Prof Li Wei, UCL Institute of Education Director and Dean asserts:
“NCLE believes in developing teacher agency through co-learning and the sharing of evidence-based practice, leveraging the Institute of Education’s extensive research base as a world-leading faculty of education.
Together, we hope to foster a positive ethos that champions languages education, supports the professional learning of language teachers at every stage of their career, and helps teachers to realise the multilingual potential of every learner, including recognising and valuing languages spoken across our communities.
We believe language skills and intercultural understanding can break down barriers to opportunity and transform lives.”
Three easy steps to join NCLE in re-energising languages education:
- Sign up to the NCLE’s free CPD platform, Language Educators Online (LEO): the online meeting place for knowledge exchange and advanced professional learning and your portal to access learnings from our research and schools-led projects.
- Explore the National Priority Projects – driving change and addressing regional needs through research-informed action. Visit LEO to access project outcomes and findings!
- Contact your nearest Language Network – your local way into the national community of practice – offering support, access to free teach meets, and webinars.
References
European Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, Brandenburg, U., Berghoff, S., Taboadela, O. (2014) The Erasmus impact study : effects of mobility on the skills and employability of students and the internationalisation of higher education institutions. Publications Office. https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2766/75468
Collen, I., & Duff, J. (2024). Language Trends England 2024. British Council. https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/language-trends-england-2024
Honorary Professor Bernardette Holmes MBE is Director of the National Consortium for Languages Education (NCLE). She has made major contributions to languages education in England through her work as a modern languages advocate, teacher, adviser, inspector, teacher trainer, researcher, curriculum and policy developer, author, and consultant to the DfE.