1st Edition
Leading English in the Primary School A Subject Leader's Guide
Leading English in the Primary School is a comprehensive guide for both aspiring and experienced leaders of primary English. It supports you in navigating your way through the role and offers practical guidance to help you develop a clear understanding of how to improve the teaching of English in your school.
Written by experts with extensive experience of both leadership and the primary classroom, it explores skills required for effective subject leadership while continually considering the specific implications for English. With action and reflection points throughout the book, it offers a detailed introduction to:
- the role of the English subject leader
- implementing strategy and vision
- adapting to new educational policy
- methods for leading teaching and learning
- how and why leaders evaluate and monitor progress
- contemporary changes to the curriculum.
Rich case studies reveal how schools lead English in practice and provide real-life examples of English subject leaders’ decision-making processes and actions. Grounding the subject leader role in the current curriculum, Leading English in the Primary School is a source of advice, support and inspiration for all professionals embracing the complex, challenging, yet fulfilling role of Primary English Leader.
List of figures
Acknowledgements
List of contributors
Foreword Tony Martin
Introduction
Chapter 1: Congratulations you’re the subject leader Lisa Baldwin and Liz Chamberlain
Chapter 2: What’s in a name? Lisa Baldwin
Chapter 3: Leading the English curriculum Lisa Baldwin
Chapter 4: A shared vision for English Lisa Baldwin
Chapter 5: Documentation supporting English Lisa Baldwin
Chapter 6: Pedagogical choices in primary English Liz Chamberlain
Chapter 7: Literacy in the 21st Century Sandy Stockwell
Chapter 8: Working in teams and managing change Neil Suggett
Chapter 9: Leading school development: One school’s journey Lisa Baldwin
Chapter 10: Observing key features of effective English lessons Lisa Baldwin
Chapter 11: Monitoring and evaluating progress Lisa Baldwin
Chapter 12: Working with families to support literacy development Mary Scanlan
Chapter 13: Hot topics: Grammar and writing Lisa Baldwin
Appendix 1: Audit of subject knowledge
Appendix 2: Checklist prompts for lesson observation
Biography
Lisa Baldwin is Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Winchester, UK. She completed her NQT year in a Dorset school before becoming a senior teacher in a school in the London Borough of Brent. In 2007 she became a school improvement adviser for the London Borough of Hillingdon, delivering training and providing school support for English and school leadership. Her research interests are in all aspects of English, but particularly early reading.
‘Provides background knowledge and ideas as well as case studies of teachers, subject leaders and a school, all designed to build your knowledge of the different aspects of the role and enable you to reflect on your school and how you might lead the teaching of English in it…I have really enjoyed reading Lisa Baldwin’s book.’ - Tony Martin, Past President United Kingdom Literacy Association
"An essential read for anyone beginning their journey as an English/Literacy leader. Not only do the authors share a wide range of current and seminal research, they encourage practitioners to reflect on their own professional identity as an English leader. By considering not just the ‘what’ to do, but the ‘how’ and ‘why’, they guide teachers to consider actions they can take to develop high quality English practice in their schools in a meaningful and sustainable way. This is definitely a book that belongs on my classroom bookcase – it’s too useful to keep at home!" - Rebecca Barnard, Literary Leader, Churchfield Church School, Bath and Wells Multi Academy Trust