The Trent and Tame Language Network
The National Consortium for Language Education is England’s flagship programme for Languages; research-informed, partnership-based and funded by the Department for Education. NCLE is a consortium of three partners: IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society, the British Council and the Goethe-Institut.
NCLE intends to strengthen Languages Education in England through evidence-based approaches to teaching and learning using two mechanisms.
Language Educators Online
NCLE has developed a free on-demand professional learning platform for Language teachers and leaders called Language Teachers Online. Or LEO for short! The platform provides:
• The latest research into Language Teaching and Learning
• An opportunity to see what this might look like in the classroom with recently recorded
footage from French, Spanish and German classrooms across the country.
• Flexible learning pathways, in bite-sized chunks and it’s completely free!
Language teachers and leaders can sign up to access LEO Language Educators Online – NCLE
Language Networks
NCLE leads 14 Language Networks, located across England. From September 2025, the three West Midlands Language Networks will work collaboratively to broaden their reach and offer CPD to more schools across the West Midlands.
Grand Union Language Network is based at Tudor Grange Academy in Solihull.
Swanswell Language Network is based at Sidney Stringer Academy in Coventry.
Trent and Tame Language Network is based at the Arthur Terry School in Birmingham and
Painsley Catholic College in Staffordshire.
Language teachers and leaders can access the FREE CPD offer from all three West Midlands Language Networks, regardless of where they are located in the region. Most CPD sessions are delivered after school as virtual webinars. There are also three face-to-face teach meets, focusing on the new French, Spanish and German GCSE content.
Teachers can sign up to NCLE’s national newsletter or can sign up to their nearest language network’s mailing list (via the network website) to receive information about a more local offer.
The Flourishing Teacher Programme is a joint initiative between Haybridge and Arthur Terry TSH. This is aimed at teachers in their third year and beyond! Please click here for more details.
