NCLE CPD
The National Consortium for Languages Education (NCLE) has developed LEO – a free online professional development platform for language teachers and leaders.
Language Educators Online (LEO)
Language Educators Online (LEO) is a modular learning platform which supports you to build your knowledge, skills, understanding and confidence in languages teaching.
Whether you are an aspiring languages teacher, an experienced classroom practitioner, a head of department or a line-manager of languages, there is something for you on the platform.
What sets LEO apart?
- LEO is just for languages teachers – unlike other CPD platforms, LEO is built specifically for language educators
- LEO is research-informed and regularly updated with evidence-based content
- LEO is grounded in real classroom experience with recently recorded footage from French, Spanish and German classrooms across the country.
- LEO shares insights into using the latest ideas in technology and AI to support languages learning
- LEO is non-prescriptive, empowering you to find the right solutions for you, your context, and your learners.
Click the button below to visit the NCLE’s website where you can find out more about LEO and sign up for your free account.
National Webinars
NCLE also delivers a series of free, evidence-informed professional development webinars designed to support language teachers in building their knowledge, skills, understanding and confidence in language teaching pedagogy.
Covering a wide range of areas, including bringing the new GCSE to life, transition and transfer at KS2, AI and technology and languages for all – a social justice issue, the webinar series brings experts in their respective fields together to share best practice, explore emerging themes and connect with the language teaching community.
Click the button below to find out more about upcoming webinars.
National Priority Projects
2025-26
NCLE is coordinating 14 National Priority Projects (NPPs) across the country. Each NPP is led by a Language Network and delivered on the ground in their region.
The NPPs are designed to drive change through research-informed action in classrooms, addressing DfE national priorities and schools’ local/regional needs. They will enhance the quality of languages teaching and learning – enabled by NCLE experts and leveraging UCL Institute of Education’s world-leading research base.
In the Autumn and Spring Terms of the 2025-26 academic year, Etherow Language Network led a project that aimed to innovate the Language curriculum by boosting engagement and motivation. The project was a collaboration with schools in our network and included webinars as well as a final project presentation and report that can be found below.
Etherow Language Network CPD
In the Autumn Term 2025, Etherow Language Network delivered two webinars. There were contributions from teachers across our network of schools, who shared ideas and best practice.
Webinar 1: Innovating the Language Curriculum
This webinar aimed to support language teachers to innovate their curriculum with the purpose of increasing student engagement and motivation. We explored the following:
- Examples from teachers of engaging topics they have tried
- How to use AI tools to create bespoke audio-visual content
- Ideas for teaching the new ‘Celebrity Culture’ GCSE topic
- Examples of authentic resources using real people
- Using stories and songs, also relevant for KS2
Webinar 2: Speaking Skill Focus
This webinar aimed to support language teachers in preparation for the new GCSE Speaking assessment. It included:
- An explanation and comparison of the new Speaking exams for AQA and Edexcel
- Top tips for preparing students for the new GCSE Speaking exams
- How to encourage more confident and spontaneous speaking in the classroom
- How to embed Speaking skills in curriculum and pedagogy