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Teaching and Learning

Put Pedagogical Theory into Practice with Your First Class

Explain clearly, mark less but better, and walk into your first GCSE or A level class knowing what the exam board expects.

  • 40 minutes
  • 7 modules
  • 0.5 CPD hours
  • Certificate

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What you'll learn

  • Explain new ideas in small steps, with analogies and live modelling
  • Use 'no opt out' and 'right is right' to raise expectations for every pupil
  • Mark strategically with the MARKING mnemonic instead of marking every word
  • Give feedback pupils act on, including well-trained peer and self-assessment
  • Use specifications, mark schemes and examiner reports to plan exam teaching

About this course

Your training gave you plenty of theory. Now there's a full timetable, a pile of books to mark and perhaps your first exam class, and you want to know which parts of the theory earn their place.

The answer here is a handful that do. Plan explanations and live modelling around a clear four-step sequence. Raise expectations with routines such as "no opt out", so a pupil who couldn't answer ends up answering. Use a simple mnemonic, MARKING, to mark with a purpose instead of marking every word, and give feedback that makes pupils think rather than feel criticised.

If GCSE or A level teaching is new to you, there's a practical guide to specifications, mark schemes, past papers and examiner reports, and to getting students ready for the exam hall.

  • For early career teachers. All phases.

7 modules

Open in order

  1. Introduction

    4 min

  2. Wrap Up

    1 min

  3. Teacher explanations and modelling

    7 min

  4. Establishing high expectations

    5 min

  5. Marking

    14 min

  6. Feedback

    3 min

  7. Teaching exam classes for the first time

    8 min