Last updated: 21 Jul 2008

Resources for teaching and assessment

New programmes of study
Assessing pupils' progress
Giving a voice: drama, speaking and listening resources
A language in common
Can do better
Improving writing
Introducing the grammar of talk
Marking: making a difference
Moving on: progression in writing
The grammar papers
Planning writing

New programmes of study at key stages 3 and 4
QCA has published new programmes of study for English at key stages 3 and 4. These programmes of study may be used from September 2008 for year 7. See the new programmes of study on the QCA secondary curriculum website. It has support and guidance to help schools develop a world-class secondary curriculum for the 21st century.

Although the new secondary curriculum has been launched, existing programmes of study still apply for learners who began year 7 in September 2007. See National Curriculum online.

Assessing pupils' progress in English
QCA and the Secondary National Strategy have developed materials, called Assessing pupils' progress (APP), to support day-to-day and periodic assessment in English throughout key stage 3 and at the end of key stage 3. The APP materials are designed to support teachers in making judgements about a pupil's level of attainment by providing them with further information on aspects of a pupil's performance.

The materials include:

• a handbook for teachers to explain how to implement APP
• focused assessment materials to help teachers assess pupils' progress towards levels 4, 5 and 6 as part of everyday teaching and learning
• assessment packages for years 7, 8 and 9, including detailed teaching notes, resources, performance indicators and examples of pupils' performance.

The materials are in the assessing pupils' progress section of the Standards site.

Giving a voice: drama, speaking and listening resources
QCA worked with the Secondary National Strategy to produce resources showing how to combine work in speaking and listening with the objectives for reading and writing in the Framework for Teaching English. Visit the web page for practical teaching activities.

A language in common: assessing English as an additional language
Aimed at teachers of pupils with English as an additional language, this booklet sets out principles for assessment and assessment scales. It covers all key stages. Download [PDF, 437KB] or buy from QCA online.

Can do better: raising boys' achievement in English
A booklet intended to stimulate debate and action about boys' work in English, it includes evidence about boys' performance and gives examples of practical approaches for all key stages that can be used to raise achievement. Available from QCA orderline.

Improving writing at key stages 3 and 4
By highlighting features of pupils' writing in English, this booklet aims to help teachers improve the quality of pupils' written work. Available to download [PDF, 278KB] or to buy, from QCA orderline.

Introducing the grammar of talk
An explanation of what makes spoken language distinctive illustrated by teaching sequences for key stages 3 and 4. Available to download [PDF, 897KB] or buy from QCA orderline.

Marking: making a difference
This booklet was the result of a QCA project focusing on progression in writing during key stage 2. It is based on the analysis of a large number of pieces of writing by children in each year of key stage 2 and a short questionnaire on how teachers mark children's writing. It includes materials for three training sessions. Download [PDF, 164KB] or buy from QCA orderline.

Moving on: progression in writing at key stage 3
This booklet identifies the characteristics of progression in writing in different purposes in key stage 3. It contains detailed analyses of the three assessment strands and annotated examples of pupils' work. Available as a download [PDF, 273KB].

The grammar papers: perspectives on the teaching of grammar in the national curriculum
Published in 1998 but still relevant today, this collection of discussion papers traces the history of grammar teaching and gives practical solutions to the concerns many have about teaching grammar. Download a PDF [326KB]

Planning writing
This publication uses evidence from a small-scale study of pupils in years 6 and 9 to make suggestions about the importance of the planning stage in written work. There are suggestions for teachers and activities to help pupils plan effectively. Download a PDF [1MB]