Practice-based Pedagogy Innovation and Implementation Micro-programme

 3 five-hour co-development sessions & an Innovation and Implementation Portfolio

Overview

The Practice-based Pedagogy Innovation and Implementation Micro-programme is a specialised professional learning programme designed for experienced qualified Mandarin teachers involved in subject leadership, curriculum development, or the professional learning of colleagues within UK secondary schools.

Grounded in an adaptive design-based professional learning approach, the programme supports practitioners in developing, enacting, evaluating and refining pedagogical designs for implementation in classroom practice. Using design prototypes and supporting materials developed by the UCL IOE Centre for Chinese Language Education (CCLE)—informed by theories and findings in the academic literature, responsive to emerging national priorities, and anticipatory of evolving pedagogical frameworks and international trends—participants adapt these designs to their own school contexts and develop, evaluate and refine contextually responsive teaching and learning materials.

The programme is delivered through three face-to-face co-development sessions and the completion of an Innovation and Implementation Portfolio comprising structured inter-session and end-of-programme tasks. Working collaboratively with peers and the programme coordinator, participants develop transferable professional capabilities that extend beyond the annual thematic focus and strengthen their leadership of Mandarin within their departments, across the wider school curriculum, and within the national subject community of practice.

This programme is run and funded by UCL Institute of Education’s Centre for Chinese Language Education (CCLE) .

Open to
Experienced qualified Mandarin teachers involved in subject leadership, school-based curriculum development, or the professional learning of colleagues, with at least two years of full-time or equivalent school-based teaching experience, who will be working in a UK secondary school during 2026–2027.

Programme Aims

  • Support experienced practitioners in innovating pedagogy through the use, adaptation and refinement of Centre-developed pedagogical designs and materials.
  • Develop practitioners’ understanding of relevant research-informed pedagogy and its practical application in classroom contexts.
  • Enable practitioners to develop contextualised, sustainable and phased implementation strategies.
  • Strengthen professional collaboration and improve workload efficiency.
  • Support experienced practitioners in taking a shared leadership role in professional learning within the national subject community of practice.
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Programme Content

Annual Thematic Scope:  Reconfiguring the KS4 Learning Journey in MFL (Chinese): For, Within and Of the Refreshed National Curriculum

The 2026–2027 thematic scope explores how the learning journey in MFL (Chinese) from the end of KS3 to the end of KS4 can be reconfigured in anticipation of the Refreshed National Curriculum (first teaching from September 2028). 

It seeks to strengthen learner retention from KS3 into and throughout KS4, support the success of all learners, enable all learners to develop secure core knowledge and skills in greater depth, and broaden learning experiences throughout the KS4 learning journey.

Structure & Certification

The programme is delivered through three five-hour face-to-face co-development sessions, complemented by the development of an Innovation and Implementation Portfolio comprising structured inter-session and end-of-programme tasks.

  • Face-to-face Co-development Session 1 Tuesday, 26 January 2027, 11:00–16:00
  • Face-to-face Co-development Session 2 Friday, 5 March 2027, 11:00–16:00
  • Face-to-face Co-development Session 3 Tuesday, 8 June 2027, 11:00–16:00

Given the collaborative and practice-based nature of the programme, participants are expected to attend all three face-to-face sessions in person and to bring a laptop that can connect to an external Wi-Fi network and has Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint installed. Streaming and recording will not be available.

Total learning hours: approximately 20 hours, including the development of the Innovation and Implementation Portfolio.

A course completion certificate may be issued upon request, provided that participants attend all three co-development sessions and satisfactorily complete the Innovation and Implementation Portfolio.

How to apply for this programme

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, 1st December 2026.

Please click “Apply Now” below and fill out the application form.

We anticipate high demand for the limited places available. Therefore, potential participants should complete the application form as soon as possible.

Please note: Applications may close earlier than the deadline if all places are filled.

If your application is successful, a confirmation email will be sent to you and your line manager by the application deadline.

Programme Coordinator

Victor Wu

Lecturer (Teaching) in Teacher Training and Professional Development

Enquiries

Tanisha Roberts

Project Officer
chinesenetworks@ucl.ac.uk