COVID-19 support: free online GCSE English lessons
As we continue to support English teaching and learning during COVID-19, we’re launching a brand-new series of free online GCSE English lessons suitable for all awarding bodies that will be going live from 03 May 2020 at 11:00am on the Pearson UK Learning YouTube channel.
You can find the most up to date information on the GCSE English Live Lesson homepage.
What's happening when?
To help all GCSE-level students continue to engage with English learning, our lessons will be taught by Rebecca White, a teacher for over fifteen years and currently Head of English at Oriel High School, Crawley. Rebecca has worked with PiXL, GCSE Pod and Pearson and has been an examiner for both GCSE and A level for over a decade. She is also a part of the National Writing Project's 'Teacher Writes' group, which encourages teachers to get involved in creative writing.
The 45-minute online lessons are open to individual students and classes alike. There’ll be one lesson each week that focusses on different topics and is tailored to the different stages of English learning.
Our online lessons will be on Wednesday each week, and the timetable is as follows:
| Date | Time (GMT) | Lesson |
| Wednesday 3 June | 11:00-11:45 am | Lesson 1 Analysing Language Looking closely at different techniques writers use to convey their ideas and influence their readers. Particularly focusing on verbs, noun phrases, figurative language and tone. |
| Wednesday 10 June | 11:00-11:45 am | Lesson 2 Using Language Effectively Applying the devices discussed in L1 to develop students' transactional/non-fiction writing skills. Particularly focusing on ways to manipulate readers through loaded and emotive language. |
| Wednesday 17 June | 11:00-11:45 am | Lesson 3 Analysing Structure Looking closely at syntax and whole text structure as a method of engaging readers and conveying ideas and perspectives. |
| Wednesday 24 June | 11:00-11:45 am | Lesson 4 Using Structure Effectively Applying the techniques from L3 to produce a carefully constructed speech that can be used as part of the SLE. |
| Wednesday 01 July | 11:00-11:45 am | Lesson 5 Creating an Effective Narrative Applying learning from L1 and L3 to create a highly engaging narrative. Looking at different methods of planning and crafting to enable students to produce a complete narrative under exam conditions. |
| Wednesday 08 July | 11:00-11:45 am | Lesson 6 Technical Accuracy and Proof-Reading Looking at different forms of punctuation and how they can be used deliberately and for effect. Also offering advice about different methods of proof-reading and editing to help students get the most out of their time. |
Want to join the lessons or share them your class?
To watch our lessons, all you need to do is visit our Pearson UK Learning YouTube channel to join the live streams or watch recordings of the sessions.
Visit the Pearson UK Learning YouTube channel
FAQs
Everyone studying GCSE-level English is welcome to join our lessons, whether you’re taking the course at school, college or remotely.
While the online lessons have been developed as free qualification support by the Pearson Edexcel English Team in collaboration with Rebecca White, Head of English at Oriel High School, the content is not specific to any exam board, so anyone studying GCSE English can join and learn.
Rebecca White has been a teacher for over fifteen years and is currently Head of English at Oriel High School, Crawley. Rebecca has worked with PiXL, GCSE Pod and Pearson and has been an examiner for both GCSE and A level for over a decade. She is also a part of the National Writing Project's 'Teacher Writes' group, which encourages teachers to get involved in creative writing.
The easiest way to watch the lessons is to visit Pearson UK Learning on YouTube to join the live streams or watch recordings of the sessions.
The online lessons are one of many excellent ways to motivate and engage students with GCSE-level English while schools are closed due to COVID-19. While parents may find the lessons a useful way to include maths into their child(ren)’s studying, they should follow the advice of their child(ren)’s school.
We’d love you to join all our lessons but if you can’t make a lesson when its being livestreamed, they’re being recorded and posted on our Pearson UK Learning YouTube channel so you can watch them at a time that best suits you.