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Subject update |
April 2025 teaching English update
Dear Colleagues
In this month's update we have:
-June 2025 exam series: key dates as well as submission reminders and support.
-An update on 'Let's Talk English' and on how oracy matters to you.
-Feedback on the recent survey of these monthly updates.
-Marking and moderating opportunities.
-Information on a great price for 'Accessible Shakespeare'.
-Training: A level Literature coursework clinic and GCSE summer networks.
As always, do get in touch if you need support on delivering our English qualifications.
Best wishes
Clare Haviland
Key dates and submission reminders
Submission dates
15 April 2025: Edexcel Online and the Learner Work Transfer (LWT) portal open for you to submit marks, grades and samples.
15 May 2025: by this date all marks, grades and samples must be submitted for the June 2025 exam series.
Authentication sheets
You must use the authentication sheets (updated in 2024) that include AI declarations by teachers and students.
Get help if you’ve completed old forms.
Help with making submissions
Revisit the submission training slides and short videos for GCSE, International GCSE and A level.
Access help.
The future of English
Our Let's Talk English campaign has started with some really interesting conversations centred around the questions: 'What is English? What is it for?' Not small questions and the conversations have been wide-ranging. Key themes are emerging – from the need for a more inclusive, purposeful curriculum, to how we prepare students for a fast-changing world.
Oracy matters to you
The Pearson English team have been out and about recently at the Voice21 Speaking Summit and the PiXL English Festival. Although oracy did not get a mention in the Curriculum and Assessment Review's Interim Report, when we asked 'Which aspect of the current GCSE English Language qualification needs the most change?' your votes clearly showed that the 'Value of spoken language' was of most concern. At the Speaking Summit, the creation of 'a recorded portfolio' was the preferred assessment format, going forwards. If this topic gets your interest, do join our Let's Talk English conversation, as in May we will be focussing on having an 'honest conversation about speech in English'.
Voices heard, actions taken
Thank you for sharing your views on my monthly teaching English updates. Overall, you were happy with the content, but here are a few actions/responses:
Voices heard
-We would like to be clearer about when the monthly update arrives.
-I don’t know how to sign up for teaching English monthly updates.
-I worry about missing key information in updates as I am usually very busy.
-We like Clare’s videos for students on A level coursework. We’d like more talk-through videos.
Actions taken
-My teaching English update appears around the first of each month, unless that date falls at a weekend or during a holiday period. After delivery, you can access each monthly update on the English Subject page.
-Sign up link.
-I will make key information more explicit.
-I will make some more walk-through videos for teachers and students.
Summer networks for Language and Literature
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 some qualifications, such as GCSE English Language 2.0.
Important entry reminder for 1EN0 and 1EN2
Centres with entries on both 1EN0 and 2.0 submit SLE samples for each qualification.
Make sure you have used the correct entry code for students carrying forward SLE passes before 24.4.25 to avoid late fees.
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.
Literature coursework clinic: 1 May 2025, 16.00-18:00 BST.
I know many of you are setting up your next cycle of coursework now. Come along for a run through of all you need to think about from set up to submission.
A level English language: principal moderator
Lead the moderation of one of our most exciting A levels.
Romantics support from the British Library
The British Library recently offered a great training session for teachers on The Romantics.
Access a great overview of the period on the British Library website.
Subject advisor
Clare Haviland
English
Email :
Facebook :
Phone :
(+44) 344 463 2535
(Teaching Services team | Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm GMT)
Subject updates
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April 2026 teaching English update
Dear Colleagues
Many of you will currently be taking a break, but I hope you find some ideas in my April update to help you with the practical tasks ahead as well as inspiration for your teaching at the start of the summer term.
What’s in the April teaching English update?
• Signing Shakespeare: opening the world of Shakespeare to every learner
• Coursework/SLE submission reminders
• Summer term GCSE networks
• British Library A level: Fairy Tales Study Day – Angela Carter
• ActiveLearn to ActiveHub
• Exam Practice Assistant for GCSE English Language 2.0
• English and Media Centre Close Reading Competition 2026
• Hot Poets Take Over: poetry, creativity, hope and science -
March 2026 teaching English update
What's in the March 2026 teaching English update?
📖 World Book Day 2026
Ideas and inspiration to get everyone reading — and keep that momentum going.
🎓 Colleges Week (2–6 March)
Celebrating the impact of colleges, the learners, and the teachers behind the learning.
🏛️ Policy and SEND
The DfE white paper 'Every Child Achieving and Thriving' and the SEND consultation.
🤖 Cool new tool for 2.0
Support students to move beyond feature spotting and into confident AO2 analysis.
🧠 Exam equity and neurodiversity
Help shape fairer exams by contributing to research into exam equity for neurodivergent students.
⏳ Assessment reminders – 10 weeks to go
Key changes to submitting coursework and SLE marks, grades and samples.
🔍 Updated AI guidance
Clearer expectations on what’s allowed — and what isn’t — for coursework and the SLE.
🌱 Entry Level Certificate (ELC)
Could you be using ELC as a stepping stone alongside GCSE English?
✅ GCSE English exemplars
Exemplars from the November 2025 exam series to support mocks marking.
📘 A level English Language
An updated concepts and issues guide to clarify what you need to teach.
🎧 Recorded training
Professional development you can access anytime, anywhere.
🤝 English qualifications support
The quickest ways to get expert help when you need it.