Get involved in NCLE’s National Priority Projects
We are inviting schools to take part in our National Priority Projects, focused on two key themes in language education:
- Human-Mediated AI
- Intercultural Learning
These structured projects will be led and supported by the NCLE, with a small amount of funding available for participating schools.
Schools will have the opportunity to discover, test and co-construct innovative teaching approaches, developing them in their own classrooms with NCLE support and guidance.
Which Project Should I Choose?
1. Intercultural Learning
This project explores how language teaching can embed meaningful intercultural learning to broaden pupils’ horizons and increase motivation and engagement in languages.
Your project may explore questions such as:
- How can language teaching move beyond fixed or stereotypical views of culture?
- How should we teach and assess culture in language education?
- How can teachers and pupils draw on their linguistic and cultural knowledge through co-learning and shared expertise?
- How can language education motivate more pupils to take up languages and encourage engagement and inclusion through intercultural learning?
2. Human-Mediated AI in Language Learning
This project focuses on how AI can be used in language learning while maintaining teacher expertise, critical thinking and human agency.
The project may explore questions such as:
- How can schools develop teacher and pupil AI literacy while preserving critical judgement and human agency?
- What AI capabilities and limitations do pupils need to understand in order to use AI responsibly?
- How do pupils interpret and respond to AI-generated feedback, and how can teachers help them evaluate it critically?
- How can chatbots support speaking rehearsal while preserving teacher-led assessment?
Eligibility criteria
- We invite applications from secondary schools across England, working with any languages.
- We particularly welcome applications from schools in areas not currently served by our Strategic Learning Networks (SLNs), to broaden participation and reach.
- While the focus is on secondary education, primary schools may be considered for the intercultural learning strand where they can offer a distinctive contribution, for example, through innovative practice, strong links to feeder secondary schools, or particular expertise in intercultural or language education.
- Participating schools are not expected to develop entirely new project ideas. Rather, this initiative offers opportunities to engage in NCLE-led and supported work on two priority areas: intercultural learning and AI, while encouraging schools to shape how this work contributes to their own local context and priorities.
- Participating schools should demonstrate a commitment to evidence-informed practice and a willingness to engage collaboratively with the wider NCLE network, including LEO and the SLNs.
- A small amount of funding will be available to support project activities. As this funding is publicly funded, it is intended to support state-funded schools. Independent schools may participate where appropriate, but on a non-funded basis.
- For the AI strand, we expect that participation will focus on Key Stage 3 and early Key Stage 4, where pupils have the linguistic foundation to benefit from structured rehearsal and where there is sufficient curriculum flexibility to integrate the project without impacting examination preparation.
How can I get involved?
- 1. Expression of Interest
Complete the EOI form to express your interest and receive further information about each project.
Deadline for EOI submission is Friday 16th April 2026.
Expression of Interest Form
- 2. Formal Application
Selected schools will be invited to submit a formal application to work on a Human-Mediated AI or Amplifying Intercultural Learning project. The deadline for this application is Friday 8th May 2026.
- 3. Project Planning Event
Selected applicants will be informed by Wednesday 20th May and invited to an in-person planning event in London on Monday 22nd June 2026.
- 4. Project Confirmation
Detailed (co-designed) project plans will be approved by mid-July.
If you have any questions on the project application process, please contact ioe.ncle@ucl.ac.uk.