English subject leader development folder - Summer 2005

This folder is designed to accompany the Secondary National Strategy’s English subject leader development days, which your LA will be running each term.

We will be providing guidance and resources via these meetings, which you can use with colleagues in school. The folder is designed to be large enough for you to include these alongside other Strategy publications or related materials from other sources. Our aim is to keep you up-to-date with the National Strategy, help you make best use of the wealth of materials already published and support you in your crucial work of leading changes with colleagues in your department.

We aim to make the meetings topical, practical and flexible enough to reflect local priorities and expertise. The theme underpinning the coming terms will be securing progression from 11 to 16 in English, extending into Key Stage 4 the improvements in planning, teaching and learning which are already emerging in Key Stage 3. Our particular focus for the year will be on improving the planning, teaching and assessment of reading and the encouragement of pupils’ independent reading.

The new arrangements for school inspection highlight the need for regular, sharp and accurate school-based evaluation of provision. In future terms, we will be looking at ways to strengthen teacher assessment and assist your monitoring and evaluation of key aspects of your department’s work.

There will be activities for you to undertake in school between meetings and an opportunity for you to share your findings together locally with consultants and with other schools.

I hope the meetings will support your leadership role in school and that you find the discussion and materials we introduce over the year stimulating.

Gerry Swain
English Strand Director
Secondary National Strategy