Year 11 GCSE English – Spoken Language Endorsement (SLE)

25 June 2026

Dear Parent/Carer,

Year 11 GCSE English – Spoken Language Endorsement (SLE)

As part of his English Language GCSE, your son/ward will be assessed for the Spoken Language Endorsement during the Autumn Term 2026. This is a formal qualification for which your son/ward will be awarded a certificate. For your information, there are two parts to the test. Part 1 is the individual presentation which lasts between three and five minutes during which the candidate talks on a single topic or theme which they have chosen. Part 2 involves a discussion between the student, teacher and peers which will last approximately five minutes. 

Students have been briefed about this assessment via their Year 10 English teachers, and they have already begun working on their written drafts, presentation skills, arguments and ideas. We have also provided the opportunity to watch some examples of previous successful candidates so that they can see what they are aiming for. 

Students have been encouraged to choose a topic of personal interest and to research it carefully using reliable sources. To quote the examination board, the best presentations are those in which ‘students argue with passion and fluency about issues which matter to them and the society they live in.’ Successful candidates have presented on a range of topics in the past including issues such as tackling knife crime in London, the refugee crisis, reforming the education system and the legacy of influential figures such as Mohamed Ali. Please encourage your son/ward to discuss their ideas with you as well as their English Language teacher and their classmates ahead of the assessment week. This will assist them with their confidence and help them fine tune their presentations. 

Our expectation is that parents/carers ensure that your son/ward returns to school in Year 11 with their SLE homework booklet completed with research on their chosen topic and a first draft of their speech completed by no later than Friday 11 September 2026. The minimum word count expected is 600 words. 

If you have any further questions, please refer in the first instance to your son/ward’s English teacher who will be happy to assist. 

We very much look forward to seeing your son/ward in school and in the meantime, thank you for your continued support. 

Yours sincerely,

Mrs K Axten
Acting Curriculum Leader - English