Designing curriculum in secondary English

This case study is written by Andy Tharby, Research Lead and English Teacher at Durrington High School. As you read this case study, reflect on how the curriculum has been shaped and developed. Take some time to think about how some of these approaches might translate to your own context. Making decisions about curriculum I believe that all decisions about an English curriculum should start with two questions. ‘What do we value most about English as a subject?’ and ‘What do we want our curriculum to achieve?’. These questions have lent both clarity and conviction to my decision-making and I would advise all new teachers to ask them of themselves and the curriculum they are teaching before considering the mechanics of short-term and long-term planning. In my opinion, a successful English curriculum needs to provide an opportunity to read great literature that not only takes students outside the realm of their everyday experience but also provides a gateway to t