Staffroom Catch Up – Nusrat Azad, Bentley Wood High School

We have been catching up with teachers across the UK to find out how teaching with Eduqas is working for them and their learners. Nusrat Azad, Head of English at Bentley Wood High School in London, shares her experience of delivering Eduqas GCSE English qualifications.

Can you tell us a little about your role and department?

My name is Nusrat Azad, and I am Head of English at Bentley Wood High School in London. Our department consists of 11 teachers, and we teach approximately 225 learners per year group. I have been teaching with WJEC / Eduqas for over 20 years.


What made you choose Eduqas as your exam board?

When I joined the school, we were already delivering English qualifications through WJEC. Upon the launch of Eduqas in England, we undertook a thorough review of alternative exam boards and specifications. After careful comparison, English GCSE with Eduqas emerged as the most suitable option for several key reasons.

Firstly, we were already familiar with the assessment style and exam rubrics, which ensured continuity for both staff and students. Over time, we had developed and refined a substantial bank of teaching resources aligned with this approach. Additionally, we found the structure and content of the Eduqas specifications to be both rigorous and accessible, supporting a wide range of learners effectively.

How have your learners responded to the Eduqas specification?

Year on year, our students respond positively to the Eduqas GCSE English Language and Literature specifications, consistently finding them accessible and well structured. They particularly value the clarity of the exam papers and the inclusion of contemporary and Post-1914 texts in the Literature component.

Timeless works such as An Inspector Calls and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde continue to engage learners, offering rich opportunities for analysis and discussion across a range of abilities.

What has been the best thing about teaching with Eduqas?

One of the most valuable aspects of working with Eduqas is not only the specifications but also the exceptional level of support provided. The digital resources such as knowledge organisers, exam walk-throughs, and materials for the new poetry anthology are highly appreciated and have proven extremely useful in supporting both teaching and learning with new teachers and students.

The availability of CPD resources, annotated exemplar materials, and access to the OER and secure portal are invaluable for planning, assessment, CPD and moderation. The website and portal are user-friendly and well organised, making it easy to locate relevant materials.


How have you found the level of support provided by Eduqas?

The quality of support provided by Eduqas is a significant factor and remains one of the key reasons we have chosen to stay with the board over many years. Responses via email are prompt, often the same day, and queries are handled with professionalism. No question is ever considered minor, which fosters a supportive and collaborative relationship between centres and the awarding body.

The combination of the specification and consistently high levels of guidance and resources has made Eduqas a good choice for our department.


What Eduqas resources have you found most useful in the classroom?

We have consistently utilised Eduqas’s digital resources to support teaching and learning across the department. This includes knowledge organisers and exam walk-throughs, which have helped clarify expectations for both staff and students.

Most significantly, the annotated and unannotated exemplar materials have been invaluable in deepening our understanding of the assessment criteria and enhancing student outcomes through targeted feedback and modelling.


Have you taken part in any Professional Learning or CPD courses?

In previous years, we have benefited greatly from face-to-face CPD sessions, which have proven invaluable in enhancing subject knowledge and pedagogical practice. It is increasingly rare to find awarding bodies that continue to offer this level of in-person professional development, making Eduqas’ commitment to such support much appreciated.”


What would you say to other centres considering switching to Eduqas?

I would highly recommend Eduqas to any school or college considering a switch. The specifications are well structured and accessible, the resources are comprehensive and high quality, and the level of support, both online and through direct communication, is great. Eduqas offers a supportive framework for delivering GCSE English qualifications effectively.