By Philip Harding-Esch, NCLE - UCL Communications Lead

As school leaders, you’re well aware that supporting your language teams can be instrumental in boosting both uptake and attainment. With the new GCSE languages specification already underway and unprecedented levels of professional support from the National Consortium for Languages Education (NCLE), now is the perfect time to focus on elevating language learning across your school. 

What is the National Consortium for Languages Education? 
The NCLE, a collaborative initiative led by UCL Institute of Education, the British Council, and the Goethe-Institut, works with 15 Language Hubs across England, directly involving over 100 schools. By utilising research-informed approaches, NCLE aims to increase language uptake and attainment at Key Stages 3 and 4. The programme combines principled practice in the classroom with targeted support for leadership, ensuring that all students have access to quality language education. 

“I am delighted to endorse work of the NCLE Language Hub at UCL Institute of Education. The links with partner organisations such as the Goethe-Institut are bringing unparalleled opportunities for students and teachers and the vision for languages as a gateway to intellectual and cultural enrichment is an inspiration.” 
Dame Alice Hudson, CEO, Twyford CE Academies Trust – Thames West Language Hub.   

What does good look like? Learning from the Language Hubs 
Hubs are working on different approaches which have been shown to improve uptake and attainment. For example: every learner is a language learner. Opportunities for language and cultural learning are essential for the cognitive, social, and cultural development of all students. When we offer real-world experiences, such as international visits and exchanges, we see a significant boost in student motivation. Research indicates that overseas trips are one of the most effective ways to increase language uptake at KS4. However, pupil premium students are less likely to engage in language study than their peers, so ensuring that these international experiences are accessible is key. 

At Beeleigh Hub, the focus is on ensuring that all students, including those eligible for pupil premium, can participate in the school’s international visits. By providing financial support, the Hub ensures that every student can experience at least one overseas trip. 

Another significant area is the value of home, heritage, and community languages (HHCLs). These languages can be an untapped resource, contributing to both the EBacc and overall student engagement. Schools like Tyne to Tees Hub offer an impressive range of 32 HHCLs, with 15 languages accredited for GCSE. By allowing students to study a language as an option, even if they’re not following the EBacc pathway, schools can significantly impact language uptake. 

At Wells Hub, HHCLs are celebrated, and students are given the opportunity to take an early, additional GCSE. With a team of examiners proficient in languages such as Mandarin, Italian, Turkish, and Polish, the school fosters an inclusive environment where languages are a celebrated part of every student’s learning journey. 

Supporting your language department: principled practice with the new GCSE specification 
Innovative teaching approaches can transform the language learning experience. At Trent and Tame Hub, for example, the introduction of dedicated ‘talk time’—co-designed with students—led to impressive results. Before implementing this strategy, 26% of students reported feeling unconfident in speaking. Afterward, only 5% felt that way, and the number of confident speakers doubled to 41%. 

All NCLE Hubs engaged in action research projects last year, exploring the motivational theory that relates to three core components of learning: relatedness, autonomy, and competence. When students feel connected to the content, have a say in how they learn, and believe they can succeed, they’re more likely to stay motivated and make progress. 

At Beeleigh Hub, peer-to-peer exchange with native speakers helped motivate students to engage more deeply with the material. Following this initiative, 66% of students said they wanted to engage with peer native speakers, compared to only 26% of a control group. Adur Hub, on the other hand, adopted a student-led approach where pupils identified their own learning challenges, participated in group discussions, and performed live assessments. This strategy resulted in 100% of students scoring highly on their Attitude to Learning (ATL). 

NCLE’s focus: opportunities for all students 
The NCLE is committed to providing opportunities for all students and breaking down barriers to language learning. This year, the focus will continue to be on supporting schools to foster greater inclusivity and drive up attainment in languages. 

How can you get involved? 
NCLE and ASCL are inviting you to join a growing network of school leaders who are taking action to give new momentum to language education. By becoming part of this movement, you can access a wealth of resources and strategies to support your language department. 

Here are five simple steps you can take today: 

1. Attend the ASCL Conference for the Strategic Leadership of Languages on 14 October in London. 
2. Access this blog post by ASCL’s Suzanne O’Farrell which describes some initial strategies for school leaders and refers to ASCL best practice guides. 
3. Local Language Hubs across England are made up of secondary schools and feeder primaries who work together to create regional networks of language leaders. They are always keen to collaborate with colleagues. 
4. The GIMAGINE website, hosted by the Goethe-Institut, offers a range of funded opportunities for schools interested in developing German on or off the curriculum. 
5. Sign up for NCLE’s mailing list: stay up to date with all the latest developments, including the launch of NCLE’s free Universal CPD platform for language teachers in January. 

By promoting language learning, you can: 

• improve attainment across the curriculum, including in English literacy. 
• break down socio-economic barriers. 
• engage parents and the community in schools with diverse intakes. 
• support your MFL department with the new GCSE specification. 
• boost your school’s overall performance by increasing the number of students passing all five pillars of the EBacc. 

Ultimately, languages provide all pupils with the confidence to explore the world beyond the classroom. Let’s give them the opportunity to succeed. 

Philip Harding-Esch is NCLE - UCL Communications Lead
If you have any questions for us or NCLE, please get in touch via communications@ascl.org.uk. To organise consultant support through ASCL or a have a quick conversation to work out what support might be of use, please contact Thomas Freeney, ASCL Leadership Development Manager, who is happy to support with this or any topic.