Latest news with #GCSE
Scottish Sun
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
My mum Kerry is called a ‘trollop' and a ‘sl*g' but she's rolling in it and driving a Lamborghini, says Heidi Katona
KERRY Katona's daughter Heidi breaks down in tears as she admits: 'I saw things as a child I should not have seen.' The Atomic Kitten star's turbulent life has been well publicised over the years; from relationships to an abusive partner and financial struggles that left her bankrupt twice over. 13 Heidi Katona reveals there are things she should not have seen as a kid, as she opens up on her childhood Credit: David Cummings 13 Heidi is now hitting back at the trolls who have slammed former Mum of the Year Kerry Credit: Splash 13 Kerry is now a millionaire thanks to OnlyFans Credit: Instagram 13 But Heidi, 18, reveals she doesn't want to go down the same route Credit: David Cummings But although she's now turned her life around and is a millionaire thanks to OnlyFans, 18-year-old Heidi insists: "I couldn't do OnlyFans. Mum has said I can't do it either. "It is not the route in life I want to take, I want to be a lawyer or a property developer. "Mum sometimes struggles with men seeing her in that sexual way. I wouldn't like that at all. I've not paid to see her pictures on there, that would be weird, but I know what she does." Heidi is speaking out today, in her first interview, to hit back at the critics who have called former Mum of the Year Kerry a 'prostitute' and 'trollop'. The teen says: 'They should realise Kerry Katona is now rolling in it - she drives a Lamborghini. 'I couldn't be prouder of her. She has worked so hard. People forget OnlyFans is just a new thing; she has been singing, doing reality work and TV appearances for nearly 25 years. "She has never stopped. She put us through private school, we go on amazing holidays, she just bought me clothes for the weekend.' OnlyFans has helped pay for a five bedroom detached house in Cheshire, too. Growing up down the road in Warrington wasn't so luxurious. Kerry, 44, grew up in foster care, did topless modelling and lapdancing to pay the bills before getting her singing break. Watch the moment Kerry Katona SCREAMS about daughter Heidi's GCSE exam results She has had her own reality shows, won I'm A Celeb, appeared on Big Brother and Dancing On Ice. But that turbulent life has seen Kerry go to rehab for a cocaine addiction that was so severe she had to have nose reconstruction. Heidi says: "I'd be stupid to even try drugs after what mum has been through - I know how destructive they can be.' She was too young to remember Kerry going to rehab but she has always been honest with her kids about taking them. 'Very anti drugs' Heidi says: 'I am very, very anti drugs. 'At school there was this older boy, I thought he was cute until I overheard him say, 'You know that Heidi Katona's mum, she's a coke head. She probably does drugs in front of her kids too'. 'I was upset, it was cruel; of course I've never seen mum doing drugs.' But what she has seen is difficulties during Kerry's relationships. Kerry has children Molly, now 23, and Lilly, 22, with first husband Westlife star Brian McFadden and Heidi and her younger brother Max, 17, shared drug dealer dad Mark Croft. Kerry's third husband George Kay was father to her youngest daughter, DJ, 11. Heidi, who has ditched the surname Croft for Katona, saw George as her dad. I've never understood why someone would want to bully - or hate on - someone's parents like that. It's rude, plus, I can't control what my mum does Heidi Throughout our interview Heidi is upbeat, positive, chatty and straight-talking but it is when we mention George that tears come to her eyes - and she talks about the things she saw as a child. George violently attacked Kerry and once even threatened to kill DJ by injecting her with heroin. They split in 2015. Years later, at just 39 he died of an accidental drug overdose. Heidi says: 'I am grieving for him. But I also saw my dad hitting my mum. She didn't realise at the time how much I saw. 13 Heidi reveals she would like to become a lawyer or a property developer Credit: David Cummings 13 Kerry, above with a younger Heidi, had a turbulent life which saw her go to rehab for a cocaine addiction, and struggle with relationships Credit: Instagram 13 Kerry has children Heidi and her younger brother Max, 17, with drug dealer dad Mark Croft Credit: Rex Features 13 But daughter Heidi saw George Kay, who violently attacked Kerry and once even threatened to kill their daughter DJ by injecting her with heroin, as her dad Credit: Getty 'That is not nice, it was horrid, and has an effect on who I am now. I saw things as a child I should not have seen. 'Mum sent me to a therapist but I don't see the point of it. 'I try to be tough. Like mum I use humour to cover things up, but it's not always easy." Petite Heidi has had to be tough when defending Kerry. She says: 'There was one time I was walking through Alderley Edge when a group of lads started shouting, 'Your mum is a sl*g...a prostitute'. 'They started following me. I wasn't scared, I was angry. Mum has always told me to tell people like that where to go. "I respond to abuse by saying, 'Tell your dad to unsubscribe then!', or, 'You know that Lamborghini my mum drives… your dad helped pay for that'. 'Sometimes I say, 'Obviously, you've noticed that she's rich? Yeah! She's doing great'. 'I've never understood why someone would want to bully - or hate on - someone's parents like that. It's rude, plus, I can't control what my mum does.' 'Struggling for money' Even pensioners have attacked Kerry. Shaking her head Heidi says: 'I was in a cafe, and this woman started chatting to me about celebrities and said, 'Do you know who I can't stand…that Kerry Katona, she's a right tramp, a trollop on OnlyFans'. I didn't say a word.' Kerry and her, clearly intelligent, daughter are a joy to watch together; laughing and sharing jokes, with a relationship that looks more like friends than mother and daughter. She's done glamour before, she's been pictured with her boobs out, there's not a huge difference. This way she takes control and makes money from her sexuality Heidi But their teen years couldn't be more different. Kerry had started taking cocaine at 14 while Heidi only went out in Manchester for her first 'proper' night out in February to celebrate her 18th because, unlike many of her friends, she 'never went down the fake ID route'. She says: 'In the loos women were openly taking cocaine. They asked if I wanted some…no thanks! I thought, 'If you want to do it, fine, but I don't even want to see it'.' 13 Kerry split from fiance Ryan Mahoney last year Credit: Instagram 13 Heidi says she has to be tough when defending her mum Credit: David Cummings And although she never wants to see her mum on OnlyFans she gave her backing to the idea when Kerry suggested it during Covid lockdown. After speaking to her then fiance Ryan Mahoney, who she split from last year, Kerry sat her kids down and said: 'I want to do OnlyFans - tell me if you have a problem with that'.' She explained exactly what the subscription site was. Heidi says: 'Lockdown meant her other work had stopped. We all agreed she should do it, she's a grown woman who makes her own decisions. 'She bought us all Airpods with her earnings. I thought, 'This is great'. 'She's done glamour before, she's been pictured with her boobs out, there's not a huge difference. This way she takes control and makes money from her sexuality. 'We didn't know at the time that she was struggling for money. She has hidden a lot from us over the years.' Heidi knows she is luckier than Kerry was growing up because 'mum will never let us forget that'. Now she has decided she wants to be famous and knows Kerry can help her. She says: 'People will scream 'nepotism' but mum can only open a door, I have to make a career work.' She embarrasses me in front of boys and I can recite her catchphrases before she even comes out with them Heidi Heidi, who has appeared on The Voice, has her head screwed on. She is also doing A levels in sociology, psychology and criminology and looking at universities but would love to sing or go on I'm A Celeb. She doesn't feel she has 'enough life experience' for Love Island and wouldn't want her mum seeing her kissing on TV. But she would have had Love Island type lip filler - if her mum had her own way. Laughing, Heidi says: 'When I was about 13 I told mum I wanted them done. 'So when I turned 18 she was like, 'Right, I've spoken to the clinic, the doctor will do your lips… get them done, I think you should, they will look amazing' I said, 'No!' I'd changed my mind. But she was like, 'Go on. Why don't you?' For now I am happy as I am.' Life in the Katona household does seem happy. But surely Kerry Katona star has some faults? 'Yes, she does,' laughs Heidi, 'She embarrasses me in front of boys and I can recite her catchphrases before she even comes out with them. 'She can be so loud too…but then so can I. 'I couldn't ask for a better mum. She's my best friend - but I never tell her that or I'd never hear the end of it.' 13 Heidi has decided she wants to be famous and knows her mum, who has turned her life around, can help her Credit: David Cummings 13 She has already appeared on The Voice Credit: David Cummings 13 She thinks she could not have asked for a better mum than Kerry Credit: David Cummings
Scotsman
4 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
GCSE results go digital: Over 95,000 UK students set to receive grades via App in 2025
In a major shift for the UK education system, more than 95,000 GCSE students in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands will receive their results digitally this summer. This move is part of a pilot scheme backed by the Department for Education, and it aims to modernize the way young people receive and manage their exam outcomes. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The new system, called the Education Record app, allows students to access their results via smartphone, tablet, or desktop devices, rather than picking up paper slips from school. The app is also designed to store records that can be easily shared with colleges, employers, or apprenticeship providers — cutting down paperwork and delays. What Is Changing? Until now, students in the UK have had to go to their school or sixth form centre to collect their GCSE results in person. For many, this has been a big day filled with celebration or nerves, often shared with friends and teachers. However, as technology continues to evolve, the Department for Education believes it's time to update this process to reflect the digital age. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Glad student has curly hair holds notebook uses mobile phone for surfing internet reads ideas for project dressed casually poses outdoor. The 2025 pilot covers schools across Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, where students will be given the choice to either receive results traditionally or through the app. If successful, the scheme may be rolled out nationally in 2026. According to government officials, the digital option will not replace the traditional method right away but will instead provide students and schools with more flexibility. Why Go Digital? There are several reasons behind the government's push toward digitisation in the education sector: Convenience : Students can view their results from anywhere, especially useful if they're on holiday or unable to travel to school. : Students can view their results from anywhere, especially useful if they're on holiday or unable to travel to school. Reduced admin : Schools can reduce the time and cost associated with printing and managing paper result slips. : Schools can reduce the time and cost associated with printing and managing paper result slips. Security : Digital records are less likely to be lost or damaged, and access can be password-protected. : Digital records are less likely to be lost or damaged, and access can be password-protected. Future planning: The digital record will make it easier for students to share verified grades when applying for jobs, courses, or higher education. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan commented earlier this month, 'This pilot is about bringing the education system into the modern world. We want to make things simpler and quicker for students, especially as they prepare for their next steps.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What Do Schools Think? Reaction from schools involved in the pilot has been mixed but largely positive. Some teachers welcome the change, saying it aligns with the way young people already use technology in everyday life. One headteacher in Manchester noted: 'The majority of our pupils use digital devices confidently. This is a step in the right direction as long as we still offer in-person support for those who need it.' However, not everyone is convinced. Some parents and educators feel that 'Results Day' is an emotional milestone that's best shared in person, with teachers available for guidance and reassurance — especially for those who may not get the grades they were hoping for. To address these concerns, the Department for Education has said that face-to-face support will remain available. Schools will still be able to host students who prefer collecting results in person or who need help understanding their options. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Privacy and Access The app is designed with student privacy in mind. Each student's data will be protected by login credentials and will not be shared without consent. Parents will not automatically have access to the results unless the student grants it. Students who do not have regular access to a digital device will not be forced to use the app. The pilot is optional, and no student will be disadvantaged if they choose to receive results in the traditional way. What Happens Next? Following the pilot, feedback will be collected from students, teachers, and parents. The Department for Education will then assess whether to expand the program across England, and potentially to other qualifications like A-levels and vocational awards.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The exact age you should have left your hometown if you are 'clever'
The decision to leave your hometown is always a big one. Some choose to up sticks for a change of scenery, many to chase a career, while others are driven by a desire for personal growth. And while certain teenagers can't wait to move to a different city, we all know people who have lived in the same place their whole life. Now, a report reveals the exact age by which 'clever' people have moved away from home. According to the team from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, 59 per cent of the highest school achievers brought up outside of London leave their hometown by the age of 32. Xiaowei Xu, a senior research economist and author of the report, said: 'Young people's choices on where to live respond to and reinforce regional inequalities. 'Talented people want good jobs that are well matched to their skills, at productive firms that offer training and career development, and they'll move if they can't find them locally. 'This means that raising skills in left-behind places will not be enough to reduce economic disparities. We need to think about bringing opportunity to people, building places where skills are rewarded.' For the study, the team tracked people who scored in the top five per cent of GCSE results. They collected data on where these people went on to live over the next several decades. Their analysis uncovered a clear link between 'cleverness' and what age people had left their hometown. Graduates flocked to the capital during their mid-20s, early in their careers, according to the team. By the age of 32, the study found, a quarter of young workers who scored top GCSEs lived in London, though only 13 per cent had grown up there. Another 14 per cent lived in 'Travel to Work Areas' (TTWA) near London, meaning overall, 40 per cent of top achievers live in and around the capital. The study found that after initially moving to London as a graduate, many people then leave the capital after several years – perhaps to find more affordable housing or to start to raise a family. Popular areas to move to at this point in life include Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey and Oxfordshire - all of which are in commutable distance of London. 'While many people leave London in their early 30s, they tend to move to already-prosperous places in the South East,' the report said. 'The majority of these move onwards to a new TTWA rather than returning to their hometown.' Those who do return home, the team found, 'tend to be lower educated'. Since half of onward movers from London relocate to nearby areas, the capital 'fundamentally reshapes the spatial distribution of skills', the report said, 'bringing in talent from all over the country and pushing it into the South East'. This pattern is not true of other cities, such as Manchester, they explained. Statistics, published by the government, suggest that graduates can expect to earn £39,000 in London, £32,000 in the South West and £28,500 in the North East. DO MEN THINK THEY'RE SMARTER THAN WOMEN? A new study has revealed men think they are smarter than their peers, even when compared to women whose grades prove they are just as smart. Researchers at Arizona State University (ASU) made the discovery after asking college students enrolled in a 250 strong biology course about their intelligence. Specifically, students were asked to estimate their own intelligence compared to everyone in the class as well as the student they worked most closely with. Experts were surprised to find that women were far more likely to underestimate their own intelligence than men. When comparing a female and a male student, both with a grade point average of 3.3, the male student is likely to say he is smarter than 66 percent of the class. A female student is likely to say she is smarter than only 54 percent of the class. In addition, when asked whether they are smarter than the person they worked most with in class, the pattern continued. Male students are 3.2 times more likely than females to say they are smarter than the person they are working with, regardless of whether their class partners are men or women.
Times
22-06-2025
- General
- Times
Diary of a GCSE pupil with 27 exams: ‘I woke up screaming'
It's finally over. After almost 40 hours of exams spread over five weeks, I have officially left secondary school. Fingers crossed I will never sit another GCSE. Worse than sitting the exams themselves was the fear leading up to them. Like a lot of friends in my school year, I suffer badly from anxiety. It got so bad that in January, I convinced myself I couldn't do it. That's when Mum got help from Tej Samani, a performance coach, who helped me realise I was panicking because I felt so overwhelmed. It felt like my entire future was hanging in the balance. That it would all come down to my performance in 27 exams in ten subjects — each lasting a maximum of two hours and 15 minutes. Nine out of my ten GCSEs were 100 per cent exam based. Only food technology has 50 per cent coursework. Apparently over the past 15 years coursework has been phased out, which is the reason why I'm sitting so many. • My son had given up on GCSEs. Then he met the exam guru People say that exams are getting easier — but I bet they never had to sit 27 of them in just a few weeks. It was a more intense experience than I had prepared for. Sometimes I sat three exams in one day, which is quite a lot for a 15-year-old. (I don't turn 16 until mid-July.) Here is the diary I kept of my GCSE journey. My first exam is English literature paper one. It's one hour and 45 minutes, but I get 25% extra time because I was diagnosed with ADHD at the start of the year — so for me it's just over two hours. GCSEs are graded 1 (the lowest) to 9 (the highest), with 5 being a strong pass. Going into the exam at 8.40am, I feel quite stressed and think about how the result of this will determine where I go to sixth form — I need 5s in Maths and English to get into my first choice. But when I get into the exam hall and see the questions on Frankenstein and Macbeth I relax a little. Though I do struggle with the silence: the exam hall is unnervingly quiet which makes my anxiety worse. On Tuesday it's four hours of religious education and the first of my biology papers. It is a relief to begin counting down the number of exams. On Thursday my first maths exam begins at 8.40am. I need a high pass to get into the sixth form of my choice. I was worried this additional pressure would make me panic but I'm happy with how it went. I end the week with my first history paper: 'Medicine Through Time' — another two hours — but again, it goes really well. Mum said I could let my hair down a bit over the weekend so I'm seeing friends. My girlfriend lives in Warwickshire (we're in London) so we can't see each other much during exams, which I am finding tough. But once they're done we'll have the entire summer. A bit of a disaster over the weekend. I asked Mum whether my friend could stay over on Saturday night and we played on the Xbox until 4am. Mum heard us and was furious, so despite my late night I got up at 8.30am on Sunday to revise chemistry. On Sunday afternoon, I went to the library with friends to study. We went to the chicken shop on the high street. Big mistake! By the time I got home I was feeling really sick and Mum thought I must have food poisoning. I'm still feeling ill this morning so Mum calls the school to warn them. I sit my first chemistry exam with a bucket next to my desk. On Tuesday, English literature paper two could not have gone better, but things take another bad turn on Wednesday when I wake up screaming. I often have panic attacks through the night but thankfully, this was just a bad dream. Today I have French reading and listening, then later in the week a second RE exam on Judaism. • How to talk to your children about exams On Thursday, Physics paper one — the hardest so far — and English language paper one. In the afternoon I can chill out a bit. Halfway through now, and time for half-term. I wish coursework formed a bigger part of my GCSEs. Mum said there was a lot more when she was at school. It would be done in a classroom, spread over the whole year, meaning less depended on this 'sink or swim' moment. After 12 days without an exam it feels painful getting back into the rhythm. Maths paper two is much harder than the first one. I then have my final RE paper in the afternoon. By the end of the day I'm definitely feeling a bit of exam fatigue. I can't seem to see the end in sight. Thursday means history papers on the Cold War and Henry VIII. They both go fairly well, which is a huge relief. The day ends with a French writing paper which is difficult as it's my least favourite subject, but I hope I will scrape a pass. I barely register the exams now, as there have been so many. I just want them to be over so I can get on with my life. In my friendship group, no one suffered with the pressure as badly as we thought they would. There was a lot of build up. People thought they would break down, but when it came down to it we all just managed. After English language paper two, I go with my dad, brother and sister to see Sam Fender in the evening. It's good to be out of the house. Weekends are starting to get tedious and I spent much of it at the library. Mum is not keen on letting anyone stay over after the last time. I start the week with biology paper two, which goes well. Then Spanish on Tuesday and my final history exam on Nazi Germany. Wednesday is my final maths exam, followed by chemistry on Friday. I'm near the end now and it's hard to stay focused. My final science exam is physics on Monday and Spanish on Tuesday morning. I realise that despite being given extra time — I haven't used it once. My final exam is food technology. It was my lowest priority so I didn't really revise until the very end but I feel it went OK. That's it. They are all over. • Are we nearly there yet? The extended hell of GCSE exam season I'm happy with how I handled the exams, but I think exams and the curriculum needs to change to reflect what's going on in the world a bit more. I don't feel like some of the stuff I learned is going to really help me in life. I am keeping everything crossed for the results I need to do A-levels in business, history and politics. In the meantime I am going to enjoy my free time, my friends and the longest of summer holidays — ten whole weeks.
Wales Online
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Exam bosses accused of 'patronising' Wales and students in Welsh GCSE paper
Exam bosses accused of 'patronising' Wales and students in Welsh GCSE paper Exam board WJEC and regulator Qualifications Wales argued the works look at themes of identity and diversity Nia Morais is Bardd Plant Cymru for 2023-2025 (Image: copyright unknown ) Exam bosses have been accused of "patronising" Welsh literature and students in a recent GCSE exam. Instead of using the wealth of Welsh writing available the WJEC commissioned specially written works for its exam paper for second language learners. Exam board WJEC and regulator Qualifications Wales said the works look at themes of identity and diversity. Critics say these ideas are already explored in centuries of Welsh literature and it would be unthinkable to commission made-for-exam writing for English GCSEs. "This is like saying the quality isn't there in Welsh literature. It's unimaginable to think they'd do this for the English exam," said one teacher. The WJEC commissioned the current Bardd Cymru, Nia Morais and critically acclaimed poet Aneirin Karadog to write pieces looking at race and LGBTQ issue among other themes for the GCSE unit four paper. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. Aneirin Karadog is a former children's Poet Laureate for Wales The exam board said its qualification development team "searched extensively to select text that represent today's Wales". Article continues below Adding: "They selected authors from diverse backgrounds across Wales, each bringing different themes through a mixture of short stories and poems. These texts will allow learners to explore different perspectives, cultures, themes and study contributions from BAME communities at a local, national and international level. " But although this initial collection successfully reflected Wales' diversity, the team "recognised the absence of poems that would support the qualification's objectives" and decided to commission the two "distinguished" Welsh poets to develop new pieces to form part of exam texts. Aneirin Karadog's piece 'Y Daith' (The Journey) uses an LGBTQ+ love story to examine language, identity and culture while Nia Morais' poem, 'Llwybrau' (Pathways) considers identity and diversity. One teacher, who did not want to be named said the works were "OK" but "not that good" and he wasn't clear why the exam board had chosen those themes, which were, in any case, already explored in the "universal themes" across Welsh language literature. "This is condescending to Wales and Welsh literatire and to students as it assumers they cannot access Welsh literature as it is. We want to be as ambitious as we can as teachers. "There are loads of great poems already out there that would have been more accessible. It is a bit odd as both poems they commissioned are free-form without regular rhythm or traditional meters. If the point is to gain more Welsh speakers and welcome young people into the language and culture then don't assume they won't cope by commissioning work especially. "These new poems have not been around for long and however good, or not, they are they have had no cultural impact. It feels inauthentic. "These poets have done good things, but these commissioned poems have come out of nowhere. They are interesting but not as good as some of the poems already written that they could have chosen, in my opinion ." The second language Welsh GCSE was reformed pre-pandemic and now has four units. Units one and two are speaking and three reading and writing while paper four brings in literature. Quoted on the WJEC website the GCSE exam paper commissioned poets said they were delighted. Describing her inspiration for her poem, Nia Morais, a writer from Cardiff, said : 'My father's family is from Cabo Verde in West Africa, and I also have family in Portugal. This is a poem I have written as a letter to my grandmother and grandfather, remembering the longing for cultural connection I felt as a teenager, and celebrating my mixed heritage. "I hope the poem will strike a chord with the young people of Wales and start discussions in the classroom about the diverse identities that can be seen in Wales today." Nia has an MA in creative writing from Cardiff University and in 2020, she released her first audio play, Crafangau, as part of Sherman Theatre's Heart of Cardiff project. She has been Writer in Residence at Sherman Theatre and her first full play Imrie, co-produced by Frân Wen and Sherman Theatre, toured Wales over the summer of 2023. Nia was a member of the Tir na n-Og Awards judging panel in 2021, and also part of the Literature Wales' Representing Wales writers development programme the same year. Nia writes for children and adults. Describing his experience of working with WJEC, poet Aneirin Karadog said : "It was a pleasure and a privilege to collaborate with WJEC on providing a literary element for the new GCSE in Core Cymraeg. "Presenting literature to those who aren't native Welsh speakers is a radical change, which is to be welcomed. Having the opportunity to create a piece of poetry that would be suitable, understandable and offer entertaining and interesting discussion points, was an experience I really enjoyed. I hope that my personal passion for the language will pass on to a generation, or possibly, new generations of Welsh speakers." Aneirin, the son of a Welsh father and a Breton mother speaks five languages – Welsh, Breton, French, Spanish and English – and writes poetry in the strict Welsh meter called Cynghanedd and in free verse. He was awarded the distinguished scholarship in the Royal National Eisteddfod and he has won the National Urdd Eisteddfod Chair. Exams regulator Qualifications Wales said: "The new range of 14-16 Cymraeg qualifications have been designed to align with Curriculum for Wales. In setting design requirements, Qualifications Wales considered the need for learners to engage with an appropriate range of written and literary forms which reflect the diverse nature of Welsh citizenship and its cultures. "We also wanted learners to be able to gain an awareness of Welsh heritage and the value of Welsh literature and culture in society today. "The poems that have been commissioned by WJEC for the new GCSE Core Cymraeg provide engaging opportunities for learners to explore these cross-cutting themes whilst developing their Cymraeg skills. Support will be provided by WJEC in the Guidance for Teaching and the package of Professional Learning." A WJEC spokesperson said: "As part of our new GCSEs in Core Cymraeg and Welsh Language and Literature, learners will have the opportunity to explore a range of poets and poetic styles. Article continues below "To meet Qualifications Wales' approval criteria for our GCSE in Core Cymraeg, we commissioned two critically acclaimed Welsh poets, Aneirin Karadog and Nia Morais to produce two new poems. These new poems offer learners texts that reflect the heritage of the language, whilst also celebrate the diversity seen across Wales. "These materials are available for free to centres, and are supported by a package of free digital resources. For our GCSE in Welsh Language and Literature, learners will study six poems, from at least three poets. Schools can choose their own poets/poems in accordance with the requirements, which are outlined in our specification."
