English Aims and Objectives

The general Aims of the course are:

To ensure continued debate about the importance of studying English Literature, its specific content, and its place within the curriculum;
To develop expertise and facilitate the sharing of good practice in the teaching of English Literature
To promote the importance of English Literature in engaging pupils with moral, social and cultural issues
To highlight the value of Literature in developing the linguistic range, understanding, and confidence of pupils
To develop in teachers the confidence to introduce pupils to challenging texts and materials, and to promote intellectual independence and critical thinking

The Objective of the course is to address three general questions:

1. Why should we teach English Literature?

2. What English Literature should we teach?

3. How should we teach it?

Consequently, the objective is concerned both with the principles of education and with practical questions such as:

What is the literary tradition? Is it important to try and define it? How can we give pupils a sense of this tradition?
In general terms, what kinds of literary texts should pupils have studied at each of the Key Stages? How can teachers best teach the ‘big’ novels?
What kinds of teaching are most likely to develop in pupils a capacity for independent critical thinking combined with intellectual rigour?
What are the best ways to approach the teaching of difficult texts and materials so as to make them enjoyable and rewarding for all pupils?
What is the relationship of literature to individual identity and, beyond that, to national identity?