Language Hubs

Funded by the Department for Education (DfE), the Language Hubs programme, led by the National Consortium for Languages Education (NCLE) aims to increase the number of pupils studying a language at GCSE and will encourage pupils to continue to study languages at advanced level, nurturing a lifelong interest in languages.

Our overall mission is to bring about societal change, fostering greater national interest in studying languages and driving more pupils to study them throughout education from primary school onwards. 

Managed by the NCLE, our 25 Language Hubs (15 in Phase 1, with a further 10 in Phase 2) will seek to increase the number of pupils studying languages, improve the transition from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3, widen uptake of language learning for disadvantaged pupils and increase access to home, heritage, and community languages.   

From September 2023, the first 15 Hubs, led by 19 Lead Schools are bringing together languages education professionals to help schools lead improvement in languages education in England. They are harnessing expertise within their region to develop and spread excellent practice for the benefit of all pupils and teachers.

What is a Hub?

Each Language Hub comprises one lead school with up to 7 partner secondary schools (some Language Hubs are co-led by two secondary schools). The hub’s purpose is to work with their partner schools, involving primary partners, and post-16 providers to improve standards of language teaching and learning across the country, in line with the recommendations of the Teaching Schools Council’s MFLPR2016. Hubs are encouraged to make stronger links with their local HEIs who are providing enhanced support through the Routes into Languages Programme. 

Becoming a Lead Hub School 

The first phase (23-24) of the Lead Hub School recruitment is now closed. The second phase is also now closed, and we have begun the process of selecting our next 10 Lead Hub schools. 

If you have any queries, please do get in touch with us at ioe.ncle@ac.uk.