Image of happy GCSE students and NCELP strapline Understanding, improving and promoting language learning

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 acting as language hubs, 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 (DfE) 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.

Our work is to:

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

Meet the Team

Find out more about the roles and biographies of the NCELP team.

Funders and partners

Find out more about our key funders and the partners that we work with.

Background to the Centre

Find out more about the DfE Modern Foreign Language Programme.

What people are saying about us

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Alice Harrison Head of Department, Reddish Vale High School

“We have been thrilled to have free access to such a well-planned and structured scheme of work. The resources are so well organised and easily adaptable for our classes. It has made a big difference to our workload”

Lynne Kay Course Leader for PGCE Modern Languages, Newcastle University

“Just to also say a big thank you for all the excellent resources you have created on the NCELP Portal. Awesome!…What’s great is having the research, the underpinning principles and extensive resources all in one place”

Pippa Allenby Primary MFL Outreach Teacher for KS2, St Bede's Catholic College

“I think the KS3 SOW is inspirational! Thank you to everyone for all the resources and CPD information and videos. They are fantastic!” 

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Getting into NCELP FAQs

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