National Modern Languages SCITT (teacher training)

What National Modern Languages SCITT (teacher training) does

National Modern Languages SCITT (NML SCITT) is a UK-registered non-profit School-Centred Initial Teacher Training provider operating under Chorus Education Trust. Founded in 2016 and headquartered at Silverdale School in Sheffield, it is the only national teacher training provider in England focused exclusively on modern foreign languages, offering programmes in French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, and Russian. Training is delivered through a network of 8 regional hubs (Manchester, North London, North East London and Essex, Oundle, Oxford and Oxfordshire, Sheffield and Peak District, South East London, and South West London), each anchored by a partner school such as Dulwich College, Brentwood School, or Haberdashers' Boys' School. The core product is a one-year programme combining academic study with Sheffield Hallam University (PGCE with 60 Master's credits) and a minimum of 120 days of practical classroom experience in at least two schools.

The business model is tuition-driven: trainees pay £9,790 for 2026-2027 standard full-time courses, with additional administration fees for DBS, health checks, and pre-course programmes. Trainees are eligible for DfE bursaries of up to £20,000 for most languages, British Council scholarships of £22,000 for French/German/Spanish, and up to £26,000 for Japanese language trainees. Applications are routed through the DfE Apply platform, with hub leaders conducting interviews and managing placements locally. The provider achieved an Ofsted 'Good' rating in 2021, with inspectors noting that trainees leave 'very well-prepared to teach languages' and that mentors are language specialists with high subject expertise.

Operationally, the organisation runs with a lean team of approximately 16 employees (Director, Course Leader, Administration Manager, Finance Manager, Marketing Coordinator). It pursues growth through hub expansion, new language specialisms (Japanese added in 2024 via partnership with the Japan Foundation), and ecosystem partnerships with the British Council, Japan Foundation, and Swire Chinese Language Foundation. Marketing combines digital channels (website, Facebook), taster events at hubs, and participation in industry conferences such as the ALL Yorkshire Conference. The post-qualification value chain extends into Early Career Framework support through the South Yorkshire Teaching Hub.

Name

National Modern Languages SCITT (teacher training)

Legal name

National Modern Languages SCITT

Website

https://nationalmodernlanguages.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

National Modern Languages SCITT is a UK non-profit teacher training provider, the only national SCITT solely focused on modern languages, training teachers in eight languages across 8 regional hubs in England through partnerships with Sheffield Hallam University and leading independent and state schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Teacher Training

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

TESOL / Bilingual / World Language Teacher Preparation Programs (EDAHAFAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Teacher Training & Language Teaching Certifications (e.g., CELTA/DELTA) (EDAIAEAI)

Keywords

• Teacher training
• Modern languages
• Initial teacher education
• PGCE programmes
• School-centred training

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheffield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition fees from trainees: Trainees pay tuition fees for the teacher training programme. For 2026-2027, the tuition fee is £9,790 for standard full-time courses. Additional administration fees cover UK-enhanced DBS check, health check, and pre-course programme.
2. Government bursaries: Trainees may be eligible for government bursaries of £20,000 for languages (Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish). Scholars for French, German and Spanish can receive £22,000 from the British Council. Japanese trainees may be eligible for £26,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

National Modern Languages SCITT delivers a one-year School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme focused solely on modern foreign languages, leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a PGCE qualification (with 60 credits towards a Master's degree). Training is delivered through a network of 8 geographical hubs across England in partnership with state and independent schools, combining academic study with a minimum of 120 days of practical classroom experience in at least two schools. Seven language specialisms are offered: French/German/Spanish (core) plus Arabic, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, and Russian (each paired with French, German or Spanish as a second language).

Product overview

National Modern Languages SCITT operates as a single, unified teacher training programme focused solely on modern foreign languages. The core product is a one-year School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme that combines academic learning through Sheffield Hallam University (leading to PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status) with extensive practical classroom experience through placements in partner schools. Training is delivered through a network of regional hubs across England (Manchester, North London, North East London and Essex, Oundle, Oxford and Oxfordshire, Sheffield and Peak District, South East London, and South West London), each partnered with local schools for placement experiences. The programme offers seven language specialisms: French/German/Spanish (core), plus Arabic, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, and Russian as additional languages (each requiring French, German or Spanish as a second language). Trainees receive a personalised training plan, dedicated mentoring, portfolio-based assessment, and ongoing support from pre-course events through to employment. Funding support includes bursaries up to £26,000 for certain languages and scholarships through the British Council.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Teacher Training Programme (French, German or Spanish) One-year teacher training programme leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and PGCE with 60 credits towards a Master's degree. Trainees spend a minimum of 120 days in at least two schools gaining practical classroom experience. Designed for prospective modern languages teachers in secondary schools.
• Arabic with French, German or Spanish Training Specialist teacher training programme for Arabic language teaching, requiring French, German or Spanish as a second language. Places limited and not available in every hub. Leads to QTS and PGCE.
• Italian with French, German or Spanish Training Specialist teacher training programme for Italian language teaching, requiring French, German or Spanish as a second language. Places limited and not available in every hub. Leads to QTS and PGCE.
• Japanese with French, German or Spanish Training New specialist teacher training programme for Japanese language teaching, delivered in partnership with Japan Foundation. Requires French, German or Spanish as a second language. Eligible for £26,000 government bursary. Leads to QTS and PGCE.
• Mandarin with French, German or Spanish Training Specialist teacher training programme for Mandarin Chinese teaching. Places limited and not available in every hub. Requires French, German or Spanish as a second language. Leads to QTS and PGCE.
• Russian with French, German or Spanish Training Specialist teacher training programme for Russian language teaching. Places limited and not available in every hub. Requires French, German or Spanish as a second language. Leads to QTS and PGCE.
• Training Hubs Network Network of 8 geographical training hubs across England offering local training and placement opportunities. Hubs located in Manchester, North London, North East London and Essex, Oundle, Oxford and Oxfordshire, Sheffield and Peak District, South East London, and South West London. Each hub is led by a partner school.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trainees are 'very well-prepared to teach languages' (Ofsted 2021)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sheffield Hallam UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing the assessment for the PGCE qualification. Named University of the Year for Teaching Quality by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020. Provides the academic rigour and certification for the teacher training programme.
• British CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffers scholarships of £22,000 for trainees training to teach French, German, or Spanish. Sets their own eligibility criteria for scholarship applications. Runs information sessions about the scholarship and application process.
• Japan FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support aspiring teachers of Japanese. Provides scholarship opportunities and support for Japanese language teacher training. A collaboration designed to inspire and equip fluent Japanese speakers with skills and qualifications needed to teach Japanese.
• Swire Chinese Language FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership enabling the Sheffield hub to offer Mandarin teacher training through the Swire Chinese Language Centre at Tapton School. Provides relevant placements for Mandarin trainees.
• South Yorkshire Teaching HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilverdale School is part of the South Yorkshire Teaching Hub, which provides specialist support and training for Early Career Teachers after they qualify.
• Chorus Education TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent trust that developed the National Specialist SCITTs, including the National Modern Languages SCITT. Part of the National Specialist SCITTs home of subject-specific school-centred initial teacher training.
• Department for EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body providing regulatory oversight, funding mechanisms (bursaries), and the Apply for Teacher Training platform through which applications are processed.
• Association for Language LearningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLanguage teaching professional association. The organisation co-hosts events such as the ALL Yorkshire Conference for A-Level language teachers.
• Qatar FoundationminorOthersListed as an education partner, nature of partnership not detailed in available source material.
• NASBTT (National Association of School-based Teacher Trainers)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides training and development resources for both trainees and mentors in the teacher training programme.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ark Teacher Training: School-led Initial Teacher Training provider, part of the Ark network, recruiting trainees into a multi-academy trust. Comparable in delivery model (school-centred, salaried/ tuition pathways) but broader in subject focus than NML SCITT.
• i2i Teaching Partnership: School-led teacher training provider in the North of England, offering School Direct and PGCE pathways. Comparable operational model and Ofsted-regulated status but without a single-subject specialism.
• Harris Initial Teacher Training: School-led teacher training arm of the Harris Federation multi-academy trust, offering salaried and tuition-fee routes. Comparable school-centred delivery model and Ofsted-regulated framework, though without MFL-specific focus.
• National Science SCITT: Another National Specialist SCITT under Chorus Education Trust, delivering specialist subject teacher training through a hub network. Shares operational DNA with NML SCITT but for sciences.
• National Mathematics and Physics SCITT: Sibling under Chorus Education Trust, operating the same National Specialist SCITTs model but for mathematics and physics. Closest comparable in business model, hub structure, and Ofsted-validated trainee outcomes.

Broad incumbents

• University of Oxford (PGCE): Offers secondary PGCE pathways including modern languages via the Department of Education. Competes for graduate talent and benefits from a strong academic brand versus NML SCITT's school-based specialism.
• Teach First: Major UK teacher training charity offering a salaried two-year training pathway into low-income schools. Operates at far greater scale than NML SCITT but competes for the same secondary teaching talent pool across many subjects.
• UCL Institute of Education (PGCE): Large UK university provider of secondary PGCE programmes including modern languages. Offers a traditional university-led route into teaching and competes for the same graduate candidates as NML SCITT.
• University of Cambridge (PGCE): University-led PGCE provider including secondary MFL, with strong academic brand. Competes for high-calibre language graduates who may otherwise consider NML SCITT's school-centred route.

Others

• Sheffield Hallam University (PGCE): Academic partner awarding NML SCITT's PGCE but also a competing provider of university-led secondary PGCE programmes including MFL. Direct competitor for the same MFL trainee candidates, particularly in the Yorkshire region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nationalmodernlanguagesSCITT
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-modern-languages-scitt

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Modern Languages SCITT (teacher training)