English In The National Curriculum

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Justify the place of English within the school curriculum, by reference to your reading and interviews carried out with school staff (and children if possible) 1. Introduction The intention of this assignment is to discuss the place of English within the National Curriculum. This particular focus has generated many debates and contrasting opinions about what English is, what English should teach, and how English should be taught . For example, the following statement represents just one view of English teaching: ‘‘Repertoire’ was to become a key concept in these debates: the aim of English Language education was to give the child a linguistic repertoire which would enable him or her to meet the varying requirements of life in a modern and complex society.’ (Crowley, 2003, p.235 ) I will address Cox’s models of English (1989), which provide a basis for English teaching, as well as the Swann Report (1985), which outlines the importance of Standard English, and Dowson and Davison (1998) to illustrate the influence of media and technology on English teaching and learning. Furthermore, I shall also refer to Poulson (1998) and the Bullock Report (1975), which details the importance of English in learning other subjects. I will use interview and observation to provide a framework for the discussion on this topic and will generate my own personal argument regarding the place of English within the school curriculum relating my points to the literature I have read upon the topic. 2. Literature Review English has come to have a central place in the curriculum of all schools. The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) illustrate the following on their National Curriculum website: ‘English is vital for communicating with others in school and in the wider world, and is fundamental to learning in all curriculum subjects. In studying English,
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