May 2026 teaching English update
Dear Colleagues
As we approach possibly the most pressured time of the academic year, I’d like to take a moment to thank you for all your hard work and your dedication to your students. I hope that the NEA submission and exam preparation period runs smoothly and wish you and your students all the very best for the summer exams.
Best wishes
Clare Haviland
What’s in the May teaching English update?
- Coursework/SLE submission reminders: deadline 15 May 2026
- Set text rule reminders for all literature exams
- High fivers: new exemplars for GCSE English Language just in time for revision
- Have your say on the recently proposed new 16-19 stepping stone qualifications
- Policy: new accountability plans for post-16 resit students
- English for every learner
- English Matters
- Meet the author: Margaret McDonald
- Free CDP at the British Library on representation in literary texts
Get advice on all your emerging submission questions in these key posts:
Coursework submission for GCSE, Int GCSE, A level and ELC.
SLE submission FAQs
Make sure you’re all set for the literature exams this summer by using this handy guide. It has all the dates for literature exams this summer and a reminder of what the set text rules are for each. Your exams officer will also appreciate having a copy!
Access (with your Edexcel Online login) the whole scripts of 5 students who scored highly across their responses to 1EN0 01 and 02 in June 2025 with full, question-level commentary to inform your and your students’ understanding of how marks are awarded.
The DFE have recently announced a consultation on their plans to introduce new 16-19 English and Maths level 1 stepping stone qualifications. We'd love to hear your views on what the new qualifications should look like including their content, assessment design and grading.
Read the full details of the DfE proposals and the consultation
Share your views by completing our short survey (around 5 minutes).
The latest Schools Week article outlines government proposals for post-16 accountability which may allow colleges more time to demonstrate student progress in English and Maths.
Literacy is more than just the ability to read and write — it’s the foundation for lifelong learning, personal growth, and professional success.
It's therefore concerning that a quarter of students are now starting secondary school without the expected reading levels for their age. This means that an accessible and inclusive English curriculum is more critical than ever.
Take a look at the range of resources, support and English qualifications we offer: Signing Shakespeare for the deaf and hard of hearing; Rapid Plus to support struggling readers; and Accessible Shakespeare-the most accessible editions of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘Macbeth’ available.
Find out more about how Pearson offers support for every learner.
As part of our 'This is Lit' book club, Margaret McDonald will be talking with us about her award-winning debut novel 'Glasgow Boys'. This coming-of-age story is an incisive look at young masculinity and the way even the most fraught upbringing is not without hope. If you’re not part of ‘This is Lit’ come along and see if this is a book you’d like to read with your KS4 students.
Don’t miss two free livestreamed CPD events for KS3–5 English teachers, run by the British Library and Lit in Colour.
Bennie Kara explores representation in literary texts, 23 June 16:00 – 17:15
In this session, Bennie Kara will share some guiding principles for approaching racial representation and racist epithets featured in some literary texts, with opportunities for reflection around the challenges in your own school contexts.
Bennie Kara explores representation in literary texts.
19th-century non-fiction by writers of colour, 30 June 16:00 – 17:15
A special event to mark the launch of a free new British Library online resource, bringing together extracts from non-fiction texts by 18th- and 19th-century writers of colour. Discover practical and exciting ways of using these to support GCSE English Language and wider teaching of literature, with teacher Aaishah Rauf and historian SI Martin.
Subject advisor
Clare Haviland
English
