Hear about the launch of Pearson Edexcel’s new English Language GCSE qualification. Pam’s guests are Liz Slade (Senior Qualification Manager at Pearson) and Julie Hughes (English consultant/teacher). The discussion includes issues relating to the ‘Forgotten Third’, how to support GCSE English students with resitting their GCSE English Language and ideas for supporting your students to approach the writing and reading questions.

Ep 07: GCSE 2.0 and the 'Forgotten Third'

Join Pam for episode 8 with guest Emma Braithwaite. Emma is Head of Skills and Engagement at The Reading Agency and leads on a range of programmes including Chatterbooks, Reading Sparks and the annual Summer Reading Challenge. Pam and Emma discuss the ‘Winter Mini Challenge’ and other innovative programmes including ‘Reading Well’ which supports readers to understand and manage their health and wellbeing. 

The Reading Agency is a national charity that tackles life's big challenges through the proven power of reading. In 2020-2021, The Reading Agency reached over 1.9 million people across the UK, including more than 800,000 children and over 1 million adults and young people.

Ep 08: Reading for Pleasure with Emma Braithwaite

In this episode, Pam is joined by Alex Quigley who talks about his latest book ‘Closing the Writing Gap’. You’ll hear about the science of writing and how to further develop your students’ writing skills. Alex also shares some great ideas to use in the classroom as well as helping you to reflect on your own pedagogy, and how to support and empower your students to create effective writing.

Ep 9: Closing the Writing Gap with Alex Quigley

During this episode Pam talks with Diane who is an English teacher in Suffolk. Diane’s school is part of our Lit in Colour Pioneers programme, and she explains the positive impact that being a Lit in Colour Pioneer has had on the school community. We hear about how they diversified their literature curriculum and how starting a Lit in Colour book club can really open up conversations about different voices and experiences.

Ep 10: The impact of diversifying your school's Literature texts with Diane Lee

In this episode Pam speaks with Meera Chudasama who is an English teacher with a passion for educational research. Find out how learners can become researchers in the English classroom and how this can be used in your own classroom practice.

Ep 11: Educational Research in the English classroom with Meera Chudasama

Join Pam as she chats with Ange Gordon who is a Product Developer at Pearson Edexcel and recently worked on our new Accessible Shakespeare texts.

The conversation looks at these new texts and discusses some ideas to support teachers with increasing student engagement during their study of a Shakespearean play. 

The accessible texts mentioned in this episode are available here: bit.ly/48pj3Lq

Ep 12: Helping students to connect with Shakespeare

Pam talks with Ashley Hickson-Lovence about his upbringing in Hackney and how he become a football referee and an English teacher. He’s now a published author with a PHD and lectures in creative writing.  This episode is inspiring for teachers and their students, as Ashley discusses a positive mindset and how overcoming shyness and being resilient helped him achieve his life goals.

Ep 13: Being resilient and having a positive mindset with Ashley Hickson-Lovence

In this episode, the host talks to Lucinda Powell, an Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning in a boys school in South Oxfordshire, England.

Lucinda's interests lie in the intersection between psychology and education and include memory and learning, special educational needs, social influence and pupil-teacher relationships in schools, mental health and wellbeing. She shares this passion through her podcast ‘Psychology in the Classroom’ which aims to make psychological research on learning and education accessible to all. Lucinda was recently named ‘Psychology Teacher of the Year’ by the British Psychological Society. 

This episode will explore these topics, as well as other related talking points derived from Lucinda's career and expertise. Press play!

52. Psychology in the classroom with Lucinda Powell

Join Pam and Bennie Kara as they discuss a range of topics, including Bennie’s new book ‘The Diverse Curriculum,’ and the practicalities of enriching your curriculum to be more inclusive and diverse. Other aspects discussed include what the future of English GCSE could look like and how to foster a love of literature in the classroom. 

Ep 14: Ideas to improve your students' feelings of belonging and thoughts on the future of English

Episode 15:  Voices in Education: Oracy, young males and the impact of Social Media

Join the Pearson English Team as they invite a host of special guests to join them in discussing the important issues for English teachers in the UK.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the panel and guests on the show. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Pearson.

Ep 14: Ideas to improve your students' feelings of belonging and thoughts on the future of English

The Full English