Last updated: 12 Nov 2007

The future of English

English 21 is a QCA project that ran in 2005. It explored future directions for English over the next 10 years. The project looked at four main issues:

• how changes in society, work and knowledge will change the skills young people need
• choice and flexibility in 14-19 qualifications
• the impact of new technologies on the nature of texts and on assessment
• how assessment should develop.

The findings from this project informed the revisions to the programmes of study for key stages 3 and 4.

English 21: Playback
The publication, English 21: Playback [download at right], summarises the discussions that took place across the country, with more than 5000 participants. The people who took part spoke on a wide range of issues:

• how speaking and listening need to be given new emphasis
• the importance of our literary heritage, but a belief that it is not static
• the need for older pupils to be able to study flexible courses that include language, literature and other media
• how technology can support learning, but must not be allowed to lead it.

Frequent general themes were:

• the importance of creativity
• a sense that classroom English needs to have more by way of the craft and art of language such as that of novelists, poets, journalists, writers of biographies and travel writers
• the need for pupils to learn how language is applied in the world of work.

The four Cs
Taking English forward: the four Cs [download at right] is a transcript of a conference that took place in November 2005. The four Cs are competence, creativity, cultural understanding and critical skills. These are now the key concepts for English in the revised programmes of study.

Taking English forward
Taking English forward [download at right] is QCA's response to comments by the English 21 participants. QCA has set up the group, Partnerships in English, to carry out ongoing work on projects that result from English 21 and the new curriculum priorities.

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