Free download of:Excellence in English - Department for Education

16
which they wove into a definition of tragedy that made sense to them and gave
them a more complex view of the novel.
33. Students in the middle-ability class also worked from the novel outwards but
made their own decisions about which characters to focus on and which parts
of the novel best illustrated their point of view. They were presented with two
concepts: loneliness and dreams. Prompted by pictures representing key
characters from the novel, students worked in small groups to build a case for a
character of their choice as the novel’s loneliest. Students then explored links
between the themes of loneliness and dreams with their chosen character.
Finally, students considered how definitions in Northrop Frye’s The five stages
of tragedy might be applied to Of mice and men. The sense of a worthwhile
journey successfully completed was shared across these different classes. What
these examples illustrate is the department’s thoughtful and well-planned
approach to ensuring that common themes and experiences for all students are
taught in ways that engage the interests of all students and enable them all to
make appropriately high levels of progress.
34. Another key feature in the department’s success is that students, as well as all
staff, contribute directly to planning schemes of work in English. Topics and
approaches are proposed and evaluated through discussion in lessons and
through consultation with students representing the range of ability and
aspiration. The curriculum has also been constructed so that there are clear,
shared priorities that directly address local and community needs, such as:
to explore themes relevant to students’ experience, for example, looking at
how media target and manipulate children
to reflect the school’s growing diversity and tackle south-east London
issues such as refugees, racism, and street culture.
The Duston School, Northamptonshire
Getting started: how effective subject leadership improved the quality of
teaching across all classes
School data School
National
(secondary)
Number on roll 1,173 984
% Free school meal eligibility 17.1 15.4
% Pupils from minority ethnic groups 20.6 21.7
% Pupils with English as additional language 13 11.7
Deprivation indicator 0.19 0.22
% all pupils attaining A* to C at GCSE English 60.2 68.1
Excellence in English: what we can learn from 12 outstanding schools
May 2011, No. 100229