Languages Subject Centre lauded by London Deputy Mayor

The London Centre for Languages and Cultures (LCLC) was today heralded by Munira Mirza, London's Deputy Mayor for Education and Culture, as a prime example of activity in the capital where a University is constructively engaging with schools to help raise standards of teaching.

LCLC, which is based at William Morris Sixth Form in Hammersmith, is led by Pembroke in partnership with The Open University. It exists to create a hub for teachers of nine languages in schools in the West London area to support them in their work by providing regular subject updating sessions, as well as building peer networks and creating links with University academics. LCLC also provides seminars for both teachers and students.

Today in the Times Higher Education magazine Munira Mirza, in discussing widening access to higher education, argues that "Universities have to maintain their integrity, be places of scholarly learning – what we need to do is improve the education system so that more people coming out at the end are capable and confident about going to university." She goes on: "The model that they get involved in lower levels of education is something we have promoted quite a lot, in science and languages as well as the arts", and points to Pembroke's work in founding LCLC as an example of good practice.

LCLC is backed by The London Schools Excellence Fund, which is funded by The Mayor of London and The Department for Education. It is one of four subject centres founded by Pembroke in London and the North West with the aim of promoting the value of studying subjects perceived as non-vocational to university level.

Read the full article in TES