English Objectives
The objective is to consider questions of educational principle and practice such as:
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 so as to make them enjoyable and rewarding for all pupils, whatever their background and ability?
What is the relationship of literature to individual identity and, beyond that, to national identity?
What is the literary tradition? Is it important to try and define it? How can we give pupils a sense of this tradition?