This talk provides an overview of a research study that supported foreign language teachers in under-privileged primary schools in Egypt to experiment with innovative pedagogical practices for inclusion and learner agency in their classes, instead of the prevalent traditional teacher-centred approaches.  Under-privileged schools in Egypt tend to serve children from less advantaged backgrounds and have dense classes and limited access to resources and professional development opportunities. Using a mixed-method approach, the research explored children’s experiences of inclusion and agency in their English classes.  Data was collected using surveys, writing and drawing activities (n= 250 children), and games and semi structured interviews (n= 25 children). The research intervention focused on supporting teachers to use the principles of Self Determination Theory (SDT) to plan and deliver English lessons where all children felt agentic and had equal access to learning opportunities.  Teachers used simultaneous pairwork activities (ie. all children speaking in pairs at the same time), instead of only whole class and teacher-led activities, with special attention to creating an inclusive classroom environment where all students, particularly those who were less competent in English and struggled to keep up with classroom pace and activities, participated in class.  Teachers learned to consider the cognitive as well as the social and emotional aspects of learning as they had to reflect on key questions such as how to use pairwork to maximise students’ participation and sense of inclusion, choice, responsibility, and competence, and how to encourage creativity and diverse students’ contributions. Key findings of this research evidenced that teacher’s constructive feedback and willingness to share power with learners as well as access to peer support were key determinant of promoting children’s sense of inclusion and agency.   The presenter will end the talk by discussing implications for practice in traditionally structured classrooms in countries like Egypt.