The new curriculum for English marks a radical change of direction with an emphasis being placed on studying whole texts and literary non-fiction. This course will address these changes as a potential cause for celebration and will suggest practical approaches to redesigning the English curriculum to ensure students are prepared for this Brave New World.

In addition to examining the specification changes for GCSE, the course will also offer suggestions for ensuring that Key Stage 3 prepares students for the planned changes, and will explore a range of practical approaches and strategies for engaging in high-quality literary texts, grammar and the new requirements for writing.

In this one-day course, David will investigate:

• Understanding the changes to the English language and English literature GCSE and its implications for teaching and learning
• Consider how to design a values-based curriculum to prepare for the National Curriculum changes at KS3 and 4
• Consider alternatives to NC levels
• Explore powerful tools to help design new schemes of learning

Come and investigate how to nurture confident and competent learners from KS3 and throughout KS4 in readiness for the new GCSE in English.

Course outline:

Session 1: A values-based Curriculum

• What are your values?
• The threshold concepts of English
• The problem with progress
• What needs to happen at KS3?

Session 2: Is the future bright?

• Understanding the changes
• Strategies for successful teaching
• Knowledge organisers
• Teaching for memory

Session 3: Realigning assessment

• The problem with mark schemes
• Aligning formative assessment to formative tasks
• Using comparative judgement improve summative assessment
• Assessing more of what we value

This course is for:

• English Teachers who are teaching Key Stage 3 and/or Key Stage 4
• Heads of Departments
• Curriculum leaders

Presenter Profile

David Didau has been a teacher for 15 years, and has run two English departments, as well as being an Assistant Head. He is an Associate of Independent Thinking and is renowned for his practical approach and commitment to sound pedagogy. His blog, The Learning Spy, is one of the most influential education blogs in the world. He is the author of ‘The Perfect English (Ofsted) Lesson’ and ‘The Secret of Literacy: making the implicit explicit’ as well as being a regular columnist with Teach Secondary magazine.

Feedback from teachers on David's course

I found the sequencing model and marking/feedback elements of the day most useful.
Inspirational! Great day. Very well-informed input with many inspirational ideas.
I want another day! What I need is to use all of this and share with my dept. as it is honest, thoughtful and really focused. Genuinely the best CPD I’ve ever been to – thank you.
Really helpful and interesting with practical ideas. “Gentle delivery”.
Thank you very much. I have many practical/concrete ideas (as well as the rationale behind them) to take away. They will help my students in the ways that matter most! I would highly recommend this course!
Invigorating! Also useful to transfer to History of Art –very relevant, because of high levels of literacy required.

Cost: £145 per delegate which includes lunch and resources; £199 for 2 teachers from the same school