National Centre for Excellence for Language Pedagogy


The National Centre for Excellence for Language Pedagogy (NCELP) was set up in December 2018. We work in partnership with university researchers, teacher educators and expert practitioners, and Specialist Teachers in Leading Schools across the country, to improve language curriculum design and pedagogy, leading to a higher take up and greater success at GCSE.

We are funded by the Department for Education and co-directed by The University of York and The Cam Academy Trust.

Our substantial package of support includes professional development tools, teaching resources, and workshops, and takes forward the recommendations made in the Teaching Schools Council’s Modern Foreign Languages Pedagogy Review led by headteacher and linguist Ian Bauckham, and ensures they are achievable and effective in schools. All of our work is in line with the new GCSEs in French, German and Spanish.

Our work is to:

  • Connect classroom practice and research
  • Develop pedagogy, with resources to deliver it
  • Improve intrinsic motivation and increase GCSE uptake

Find out more about the NCELP:


NCELP programmes & events

Regional face-to-face Teach-Meets

We are delighted to offer a number of regional face-to-face Teach-Meet sessions in February and March 2023 for completers of our NCELP CPD Course (Spring 22 or 23/Summer 22/Autumn 22/Asynchronous or blended model). These ‘next-steps’ sessions are hosted by our Course Leaders and provide the opportunity for teachers to come together and work collaboratively to share ideas on next steps to prepare for the new GCSE as well as develop practice further.

When: various dates in February and March

Where: various locations across England

For more information visit https://ncelp.org/professional-development/regional-teach-meets-spring23/

Free self-study CPD course: MFL Curriculum Design and Pedagogy for KS3 and GCSE

This free online course is in line with the:

  1. 2016 MFL Pedagogy Review recommendations
  2. 2021 Ofsted research review
  3. New Subject Content  for French, German and Spanish GCSE – for first teaching in 2024 with first exams in summer 2026

For more information visit https://ncelp.org/professional-development/self-study-cpd-course/

Download the course flyer here.

Full listing of NCELP events and courses

For a full listing of upcoming NCELP events and courses, visit https://ncelp.org/upcoming-events/

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