English Guide

Adapting to The Secondary National Strategy, KS3 

All schools can benefit from striving to make further improvements in the standards achieved by their pupils. Much of what is suggested in the Key Stage 3 English strand is not new but is a bringing together of the best practices and therefore may already be some of the methods used in successful schools.

However, schools need to look carefully at the detail and try to make the adjustments and additions that will make the difference in their classrooms without sacrificing what they know to be successful practice.

In terms of planning, schools who have already devised effective schemes of work have found it relatively easy to adapt to the guidance. The Strategy has clear Objectives for each year group (whereas the National Curriculum's objectives cover two key stages) so many teachers have found the Framework easier to use in terms of ensuring progression from one academic year to the next.

Many schools have also found the lesson structure beneficial. Starter activities are seen as an opportunity to cover word and sometimes sentence level objectives in a more structured way than before.

Most schools have found these activities motivating for their classes and feel that more students are actively involved in lessons. Many teachers have commented on the extra confidence students feel about the technical side of their written work as a result of this slightly changed focus.