Ofsted has published the latest in a series of reviews into
different subjects across the curriculum. Today’s review looks at
English.
This review explores a wide and diverse range of research
relating to English, to identify factors that can contribute to
high-quality curriculums, pedagogy, assessment and schools’
systems for managing the subject. Ofsted’s education inspection
framework (EIF) and the research underpinning it are the lenses
through which we have considered, framed and presented the
research literature.
Read the English research
review.
English is a complex subject that combines the disciplines of
English language and literature. Studying English is vital to
understanding the rest of the curriculum, as well as for
educational success beyond school. But more than this, English
allows pupils to explore the power and beauty of literature and
language.
Today’s review highlights teaching approaches that could raise
the attainment of pupils in English, starting from early years
education. A core theme of the review is the importance of
progression in reading. It notes that reading a broad range of
increasingly complex and whole texts gradually increases pupils’
‘readiness’ for the ambitious literature that is the end point of
the national curriculum.
The review discusses how curriculum content and sequencing, as
well as subject-specific pedagogy, best enable pupils to achieve
the national curriculum aims for English. It identifies themes
that contribute to an effective education in English, including:
- strong foundational knowledge for reading, writing and spoken
language as essential aspects of the early years curriculum
- developing vocabulary is fundamental to pupils’ progress and
narrows the word gap between pupils who are word-rich and
word-poor
- an effective reading curriculum ensures that pupils read
large amounts of text and focuses on providing pupils with the
knowledge they need for comprehension
- a reading curriculum incorporating carefully chosen texts of
increasing challenge
- the English curriculum for novices, who are likely to learn
more effectively through direct instruction, is structured
differently in many aspects from the curriculum for experts
Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman said:
More than any other subject, English – and especially reading –
is fundamental to pupils’ educational success. But English is so
much more than the gateway to success in other subjects. Through
studying literature, pupils’ eyes are opened to the human
experience; they explore meaning and ambiguity as well as the
beauty and power of language.
We hope that this review helps teachers and school leaders raise
the quality of education in English and inspire a love of
literature and language in all young people."
