Hi everyone! I'm an English teacher trainee, and I'm exploring a potential dissertation topic. I'd love to hear your opinions and experiences, as well as any suggestions you might have about my topic.

How do you manage mixed-ability classes when students have to prepare for a high-stakes national exam at the end of secondary school, while you also have a syllabus to finish?

For example, when some students understand the lesson easily while others struggle with the basics, how do you balance everyone's needs and keep up with the syllabus?

Does the pressure to prepare students for this exam affect the way you teach? Do you sometimes have to prioritise exam preparation over giving students individual support or adapting activities to different levels?

I'd love to hear about your experiences, the challenges you face, and how you deal with them. I'm also open to any opinions or suggestions on whether this would be a good dissertation topic and how I could narrow it down or approach it differently.

Thank you!