Welcome back from half term. I hope you had a chance to rest and recharge.
What’s coming up in March?
Facebook groups for English teachers
Get all your updates for the qualifications you teach in one convenient place and have the opportunity to reach out to other English teachers in a professional environment.
This month we've launched the group for International GCSE. Groups for GCSE and A level will follow.
Some exciting events on our ‘Let’s Talk English’ initiative
Join us to be part of the conversation on:
-What English is and what it is for
-Embracing the contemporary alongside the canonical
-Honest conversations about speech in English
-Reassessing English assessment
-Boldly tackling the big issues.
World Book Day 2025: 6 March
WBD is a day to get excited/excite others all over again about reading and books, from primary school kids going to spend their £1 voucher in a book shop to the great displays and activities local libraries organise.
English teachers: why not take 6 March as a day to decide to teach a new set text in 2025-2026. Being brave with a new text moves you closer to your students who are experiencing a text for the first time and can be really invigorating for you.
My vote goes to trying our new set texts for Int GCSE: 'Klara and the Sun' or 'Western Lane'; or any of our Lit in Colour texts for GCSE or A level.
Go to the World Book Day website
International Women's Day 2025: 8 March
Celebrate by talking about/reading the texts in our 'Pioneering Women Writers Guide' with your A level students (Edexcel Online login required).
With KS4 students, you could watch an interview with one of our fantastic global majority writers on Lit in Colour, Tanika Gupta.
Mark for Pearson in the June 2025 exam series
Now that exam entries for June 2025 have been received for GCSE and A level, we’re recruiting more examiners on a range of English qualifications.
Browse and apply now
Accessible Shakespeare
If you need to restock 'Romeo and Juliet' or 'Macbeth', why not consider our accessible versions, great for those with additional needs but also for everyone else.
They're currently on special offer at £3.25, which is an unbelievable price for what you get.
> See a demo of Accessible Shakespeare
Submission support for coursework/the spoken language endorsement and pre-exam briefing
> Join me on 12 March to get ready for the submission and exam period.
New secure mock for English Language 2.0
You can now access a 2025 secure mock for GCSE English Language
2.0, Paper 1. The Paper 2 will follow when copyright clearance is gained.
Coursework support for English Language A and English Literature
> Access the slides, resources and recording for the English Literature coursework clinic.
> Come along to the free English Language A coursework clinic on 4 March 2025
Accessible Shakespeare
If you need to restock 'Romeo and Juliet' or 'Macbeth', why not consider our accessible versions, great for those with additional needs but also for everyone else. These are prescribed editions for 4ET1 02 and coursework 4ET1 03.
They're currently on special offer at £3.25, which is an unbelievable price for what you get.
https://youtu.be/S53i0Cmuemc?si=d3YbpcXmEPoQ_16B
Submission support for coursework/the spoken language endorsement and pre-exam briefing
> Join me on 12 March to get ready for the submission and exam period.
New teaching resource for 'The Lonely Londoners' from an experienced practitioner
Jon Mitropoulos, who has been teaching 'The Lonely Londoners' since our 2015 A level English Lit specification was launched, has written a study guide for students and teachers (£8.99 on Amazon).
Submission support for coursework and pre-exam briefing
> Join me on 13 March to get ready for the submission and exam period.
> Come along to the A level English Language Network on 5 March.
We have a whole range of new support available:
-FS Bitesize playlist
-FS January 2025 Resources Review
-Getting Ready to Teach and Supporting SEND learners with Pearson Edexcel's Functional Skills training for schools
> Access them all on the FS community group.
> Book onto a range of training events in March and April.
As always, do get in touch if you need support on delivering our English qualifications.
