Dear Parents/Guardians,                                                            9th Sept 2025

Year 10 students have now started the new GCSE English Language and Literature course. 

English groups have been reorganised in order to ensure pupils are in the correct class for the English Language course, following Baseline testing in June 2025, with catch up sessions completed for those who missed them then. The groups will be monitored closely throughout the year to make sure pupils are in the right place for their ability/current working grade/target grade.

As there are no tiers in the new GCSE English Language & Literature GCSE, all pupils will sit the same examination, so it is possible for your child to achieve the very highest grades in any of the teaching groups. All groups complete the same work, with the same centralised resources.

There are a couple of important events in the rest of this year for which we would like your particular support:

1. NEA [Coursework]: Oracy

●       Fortnight beginning  Monday 13th October – Friday 24th October  – Individual Presentation Oracy Exams

Pupils will be allocated a slot on one of the days during this fortnight and will then go to a separate room in order to undertake an Individual Presentation prepared in advance in English lessons only on a topic fitting the concept of ‘Belonging’. This will be recorded as per the WJEC exam board specifications. There will be no audience for this, beyond the teacher doing the recording.

This Oracy exam will contribute towards the final GCSE English Language & Language grade. It is essential, therefore, that your child prepares thoroughly for this task, attends their allocated slot promptly and does their very best.  

2.   NEA [Coursework]: Written

• Wed 10.12.25    Unit 2 NEA Written P1 & 2: Session 1 [1 hour]
• Thur 11.12.25    Unit 2 NEA Written P1-2 : Session 2 [1 hour]

• Mon 9. 2.26        Unit 3 NEA P5 & 6 Session 1 [1 hour]
• Thur 12.2.26      Unit 3 NEA P1 & 2 Session 2 [1 hour]

Each of these written NEA sessions lasts 1 hour and will involve a 30 minute revision session beforehand. They will take place in normal English lessons but under exam conditions. It is essential that pupils arrive on time for a prompt start.  These NEA pieces will contribute towards the final GCSE English Language & Language grade. It is essential, therefore, that your child prepares thoroughly for these tasks, and does their very best as there will be no time for rewriting.  

3. External GCSE exam

• Fri 15.5.26 – GCSE English Language & Literature Unit 1 exam

NB: New WJEC exam rules for the new GCSE English Language & Language qualification does not allow students to take work home to prepare for either the oracy exam or the written NEAs. Pupils are not allowed to bring in work done at home for these either. As a result, it is crucial that students attend all English lessons in the lead up to the dates above in order to prepare well.                                                                                                                                                    

The pupils’ performances in both classwork and the oracy NEA will be used to reorganise sets for January 2026 and provide us with valuable information about what we need to focus on with students in the latter part of Year 10.

I would like to close by asking you to encourage your child to attend all lessons on time, ready to learn and do their very best in all classwork, homework, NEA task [coursework] and mock exams [PPEs].

Thank you in anticipation of your support this year,

Mrs L. M. Taylor

Raising Standards Leader: English & Literacy

LTaylor@cathays.cardiff.sch.uk