What to do with KS3 classes during speaking exam season

99.9% of your attention might be on the Year 11s and their GCSE speaking exams, but you still have Key Stage 3 classes to teach and set cover for! 

Even when you're not actually conducting the exams, you won't want to be planning all-singing, all-dancing lessons for your other classes, as you do need to preserve your energy. Speaking exams are exhausting for teachers to conduct, so it's important to look after yourself.

So, these are my tips for making your KS3 classes run as smoothly as possible during this crazy season!

1. Set cover work that is super simple and self-explanatory. The last thing you want is an interruption from a cover teacher who can't work out what to do, or for your MFL colleagues to be running around between their classes and yours, trying to decipher complicated cover work. Worksheets, crosswords, word searches, simple booklets like my Mastering the Basics booklets, or a cultural research project are ideal... and make sure you leave the answers for the cover teacher where possible!

2. Don't set work that needs marking. You do not want to be working after school or in the evenings on the days that you're conducting the speaking exams. You will be so tired and your brain needs a break. Set work that is either self-marking, or a longer project that you can mark at a later date.

3. Avoid booking computer rooms or laptops/tablets where possible. These seem like an easy option for cover, but can actually be more stressful than just leaving simple worksheets. If the cover teacher doesn't use the computers regularly, if the kids forget passwords, if the computers aren't working properly for any reason, and there is nothing else for them to do, this can be a complete disaster!

4. Focus on retrieval and revision rather than introducing new language. This is especially true for cover work, but is also a good tip for your own classes during this season. Yes, you have a curriculum to cover, but a couple of lessons of retrieval games and activities never harmed anyone, and are in fact great for consolidating learning from the past couple of terms.

5. Don't reinvent the wheel and try out new ideas. Stick to activities that you and the students know well, both in your own classes and when you're setting cover. If you've never given your class a crossword, don't set one for cover. If you've never played a certain retrieval game, don't try it for the first time this week. And if you've never booked out a computer room with your Friday afternoon year 9 class, don't be tempted to do it when you're in the middle of the GCSE speaking exams!