Update on CILT activity

Following our merger with CfBT Education Trust and our move to Reading, we are now able to confirm which activities we will be continuing and developing, and which will unfortunately be discontinued:

Central support for primary and secondary schools

We are currently carrying out a programme of work for the DfE to support language teaching in primary and secondary schools. This covers:

• Development of leadership and management training for head teachers and heads of languages
• Support for teacher supply
• Development of CPD and linguistic upskilling courses
• Training and support for languages in primary schools.

The DfE is funding these activities until September 2011, when a new grant-funded programme of work which it has put out to tender will commence. 

Graduate Teacher Programme

We are continuing to run this specialist programme, which we have extended to Italian and Mandarin trainees this year. We are working very closely with the TDA to ensure that languages are strongly supported within the new teaching schools framework.

NVQ training

We provide training for teachers to become assessors and verifiers of NVQ language portfolios.

CILT Plus

We continue to offer online training and tailored advice and support to schools through this scheme, currently focussing on primary languages. You can also find our resources and publications through our online shop.

European Centre for Modern Languages

We continue to act as UK Nominating Authority and Contact Point for this unique body which encourages excellence and innovation in language teaching. We are also continuing our involvement in a number of other European programmes – look out for updates in due course.

The main areas of work which we have not been able to take forward, because of the changes to the way in which we are funded by central government, are as follows:

CILT Library

The premises we occupied in Westminster Bridge Road has been vacated and the teaching resources have been moved to Reading.  They are being used by our GTP trainees, and will form part of a new training centre there in due course. The research collection has been acquired by the University of Cambridge, in conjunction with ALL, who are seeking support in finding a permanent home for it.

Standards and employment

We are no longer taking forward work in relation to the National Occupational Standards which is specifically directed at employers, though we remain keen to support employer engagement to promote language learning in schools.