Overview
English is a subject that is fundamental to the educational success, personal development, and life opportunities of every student. As such, supporting staff in developing their subject knowledge, pedagogical mastery, and wider curriculum and strategic understanding is absolutely crucial.
The NET English Subject Development Programme is constructed to ensure that all staff involved in the teaching of English are able to access high-quality CPD that will help to build their understanding of English as a taught subject, whether that be in terms of the foundations of grammar and vocabulary, the intricacies of interpretation and construction, or the role of English within the wider school curriculum and education system.
Who should apply?
The NET English Subject Development Programme offers a number of ways to access CPD for English:
‘Introducing English’: Introducing English is a taught course intended for staff who are new either to teaching or to the subject, offering a thorough grounding in English as a taught subject, building understanding from the foundations of grammar and vocabulary all the way up to textual interpretation and construction. The course will take place from September to December 2023, featuring short weekly sessions delivered remotely by experts from across NET as well as reading materials and seminar-style opportunities. As part of the programme, staff are also given opportunities to network with teachers in similar contexts as well as to problem-solve with members of the director team.
‘Preparing to Teach…’: These will be regular one-off sessions on key topics featuring in the NET English curriculum. Sessions will be announced throughout the year and advertised through departments.
‘Snippets’: These will be short video-based presentations that will be appearing throughout the year on the NETSC English area. Topics will cover classroom pedagogy, subject knowledge, specification training, and examiner insights.
Curriculum Statement
We firmly believe that all children, irrespective of their starting point, are entitled to a broad and ambitious curriculum. To that end, we are delighted to offer an innovative and knowledge-rich curriculum, which enables any student within Northern Education Trust to full their potential and develop the all-important skills and qualities, which will serve them well in later life.
The curriculum reflects the Northern Education Trust vision of ‘outcomes focused, child centred’. Our curriculum delivers vital subject knowledge and skills, which are complemented by a raft of enrichment activities that broaden and extend the student experience.
The curriculum is designed to give all students the opportunity to develop as enquiring individuals who feel valued and respected, so that they, in turn, learn to value those around them. Equality of opportunity is a key principle in the design of our curriculum model and we fully support the entitlement that students have to study the English Baccalaureate.
What is included in the programme?
‘Introducing English’: The course will run from September to December 2023 and will involve sessions building from the fundamentals of spelling, vocabulary and grammar to issues such as structure, perspective, and the various key writing styles, as well as text-based topics such as the study of poetry and Shakespearean drama. Reading materials will be provided for the majority of sessions to provide staff with the opportunity to develop their understanding, with sessions then balancing coverage of subject content with the application of that content in the classroom. Examples will be drawn from throughout the Year 7-11 curriculum. Each session will also end with a ‘teaching clinic’ opportunity in which staff can discuss issues arising with members of the English Director team.
