English 21 - the future direction of the curriculum (2005-2015)
English 21, was an initiative launched by the QCA in February 2003 to stimulate discussion about the future direction of English in the 21st century. The project was an opportunity to express views and discuss a wide range of English-related issues, to generate ideas and prompt further discussion about how English should develop as a subject over the next decade. Areas for discussion included:
- The place of creativity and imagination and how to provide an inspiring curriculum.
- How much emphasis there should be on the "nuts and bolts" of language?
- The impact of the digital age on reading and writing.
- The significance of English as a global language.
- What all children should study and what might be optional, especially for students aged 14 – 19?
- What kinds of assessment will be best for students in 2015?
Following the English 21 inquiry, in which more than 5,000 teachers, parents, pupils, employers, writers and local authorities were asked for their views on what the curriculum should look like in 10 years' time, a report called Taking English Forward was published in November 2005. It painted a picture of "mundane" lessons, with teachers under pressure to rely on routines and structures and lacking time to be creative.
Many employers and universities were unhappy with teenagers' competence at reading, writing, speaking and listening. Those involved often highlighted the "four Cs" - competence, creativity, cultural understanding and critical skills. To improve cultural understanding the report said England's literary heritage should not be seen as a "static and fixed" list of texts, but be updated to include work from various traditions, including those of young people from ethnic minorities. Critical skills were seen as vital to success in all aspects of life, including at work, for example, the ability to check the validity and origin of material on the internet.
Following English 21, the QCA has proposed a range of ideas for the renewal of English teaching:
- Boost creativity: poets, writers, actors and journalists to be brought into the classroom.
- New courses and qualifications in creative writing to increase competence.
- Speaking and listening to be a priority for pupils of all ages.
- Eight and nine year-olds to be taught keyboard skills.
- Boost cultural understanding.
- Texts from a wide range of cultures to be used in classrooms.
- Reading and writing texts on screen also to be included.
- To help develop critical skills: more flexible qualifications with a greater range of choices.
For more information about Taking English Forward, visit www.qca.org.uk.
