East Lancashire Learning Group leads national trial for GCSE English resits and invites colleges to join
Thousands of young people working towards a grade 4 in GCSE English are set to benefit from a major national trial led by East Lancashire Learning Group (ELLG). Positioned at the forefront of efforts to improve outcomes for resit students, the group is now calling on further education and sixth form colleges across England to participate in the initiative.
Designed to tackle one of the biggest barriers facing learners, limited vocabulary and confidence with language, the trial introduces Vocabulary Mastery for GCSE English Resit. This 12-week programme is funded by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and focuses on completely transforming how students understand and use language to succeed in their exams and beyond.
Rather than relying on rote memorisation, the programme develops a deeper understanding of how language works. This enables students to decode unfamiliar vocabulary, communicate ideas clearly, and approach learning with greater confidence, offering a vital new strategy for educators working to improve resit pass rates.
Sue Smith, Director of Teaching, Learning and Development at ELLG, said:
“For many students sitting a GCSE English resit, this is about so much more than passing an exam. It is a real second chance at further study, at a better career, and at a future they might have felt was beyond them. At East Lancashire Learning Group, we are committed to breaking down the barriers that hold learners back, and we are proud to be leading this work with the support of the Education Endowment Foundation.”
ELLG created the methodology underpinning the trial and is leading its national rollout, delivering the programme across its local colleges, Nelson and Colne College and Accrington and Rossendale College. The group is drawing on its extensive experience in supporting resit learners to pioneer this methodology and drive a much-needed improvement in English outcomes across the sector.
Further education and sixth form colleges across England are now invited to register their interest in joining the trial, with places available for up to 80 settings nationwide. Successful applicants will receive fully funded specialist continuing professional development and learning (CPDL), equipping them to deliver the programme effectively and elevate teaching standards within their own institutions.
Leading the project is ELLG’s very own Laura Billington and Sally-Anne Schofield. For more information and to register your setting, please reach out to vocabularymastery@eastlancslearning.ac.uk
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