Changes to english
- 1. Subject Studies Week Three Enhancement Changes to the English curriculum
- 2. Learning outcomes: • Have an understanding of the changes taking place in the National Curriculum and the timescale for implementation; • Have an understanding of the framework document for English at key stage 3; • Have an understanding of the new content and assessment objectives for GCSE English and English Literature; • Have an understanding of the proposed changes to AS and A levels; • Identify the issues for your department these changes will engender and consider strategies to overcome them; • Have an understanding of the role of medium and long-term strategic planning;
- 3. Warwick Standards Tracker • 3. Demonstrate good subject and curriculum knowledge • Demonstrate a critical understanding of developments in the subject and curriculum areas • 4. Plan and teach well-structured lessons • Contribute to the design and provision of an engaging curriculum within the relevant subject areas • 5. Make accurate and productive use of assessment • Know and understand how to assess the relevant subject and curriculum areas, including statutory assessment requirements
- 4. Reading • The following documents are available for download on the website: (www.gov.uk/publications-dfe): • National Curriculum in England: English programmes of study • The National Curriculum in England Key Stage 3 and 4 Framework Document (September 2013) • English programmes of study: Key Stage 3 (September 2013) • Draft programme of study for Key Stage 4 English (December 2013) (Consultation on this document ran from 2.12.13-3.2.14) • English literature: GCSE subject content and assessment objectives (November 2013) • English language: GCSE subject content and assessment objectives (November 2013) • The existing National Curriculum programmes of study for English are available at www.qca.org.uk/curriculum • Further information, including timelines for the new proposals are available at www.examchange.org.uk/subject/english
- 5. Overview: KS3 & 4 • The new National Curriculum, published in September 2013, covers all subjects and key stages, except for KS4 English, Maths and Science; • These subjects are undergoing consultation before being finalised to align with new GCSEs in these subjects; • The new NC will be taught in all maintained primary and secondary schools from September 2014; • Academies, free schools and independent schools do not have to follow the NC; • The new NC will be taught to all year groups from September 2014 except: • Pupils in years 2 and 6 who will follow the current NC in English, Maths and Science and take the existing KS1 and 2 SATs; • Pupils in years 10 and 11 who will follow the current GCSE syllabi for English, Maths and Science; • The new NC and GCSEs in English, Maths and Science will be introduced in September 2015 with the first exams in June 2017
- 6. Overview: AS and A level • New AS and A levels in English language, English literature and English language and literature to be introduced from September 2015; • AS to be a stand-alone qualification, taken after one year’s study; • Both AS and A levels to be linear and examined at the end of the course; • A level is to contain coursework (20%) • There is to be no coursework at AS level • Consultation has taken place on revisions to A and AS level (October – December 2013) • Reading (www.examchange.org.uk/subject/English): • Proposed GCE AS and A Level Subject Content for: • English literature • English language • English language and literature
- 7. Issues • Some of the issues raised by the new NC and GCSEs in English language and English literature are: • There are no level descriptors for KS3. How will assessment be carried out? • Less emphasis on speaking and listening • More emphasis on grammar, punctuation and spelling (20% of GCSE English language mark) • More prescriptive in English literature • Whole Shakespeare text • Romantic poetry (minimum 300 lines, 15 poems, 5 poets) • C19 novel (short stories not acceptable) • No coursework at GCSE • No early entries or modular exams (minimum of 3 hours of exams for language and literature) • Should academies follow the NC? • Implications for less able, EAL and SEN pupils • Proposed changes to AS and A levels
- 8. Task (optional) • Having reviewed the new documentation for the National Curriculum and GCSE subject content, identify the issues your department will face in implementing these changes • Produce a paper for your department to present at a departmental meeting outlining one or more of these issues and suggestions as to how the department could address them • (Extension task) Identify the aims of English at Key Stages 1 & 2 and develop a transitional scheme of work to ensure clear progression from KS2 to KS3