Year 11 GCSE English Spoken Language Endorsement 2026

5 October 2026

Dear Parent/Carer,

Year 11 GCSE English Spoken Language Endorsement 2026

The assessment week for the Year 11 GCSE Spoken Language Endorsement qualification is fast approaching. The first assessments will begin on Monday 12 October 2026 and will run through to the end of that week. 

Our deadline for draft speeches (Friday 11 September) has now passed. Please check that your son/ward has now: 

• completed all their research and notes on the topic they have chosen.
• handed in a completed draft of their speech (3-5 minutes in length) to their English teacher.
• made some prompt cards to remind them of the main points of their speech (no more than 50 words)
• practiced their speech with you so that it is memorised by week beginning Monday 12 October 2026. 

Students have been reminded that they will have only one more English lesson dedicated to preparing for this assessment during the week beginning Monday 5 October. As part of their on-going PPA, students must be working on refining and learning their speeches so that they are fully prepared. English teachers will be closely monitoring progress with their students and we will be in touch if we feel that your son/ward is not sufficiently ready. 

Your support in helping your son/ward to prepare for this important assessment is vital. Please do encourage your son/ward to discuss their speech with you, practice with you and do ask them plenty of questions to help them develop their ideas. 

Thank you in advance. 

Yours faithfully,

Mrs K Axten
Curriculum Leader - English and Film