Is this 'English'?

In the light of the National Curriculum, does this remain an appropriate description of our work?

English is the study of and engagement with language as a means of:

• expressing the identity, the sense of self
• making sense of experience
• communicating concrete and abstract ideas
• making meaning
• re-presenting this and other worlds

Through:

• writing in a range of styles, for specific purposes to identified audiences
• reading a range of texts to recognise their purpose, identify their audiences, understand the modes they employ, derive enjoyment, and become discriminating
• speaking and listening in different contexts, styles, and forums.

To bring about:

• empowerment
• to enable in many areas of experience.

Language is a tool.

• different forms of language should be studied
• enabling analysis of different forms of language in many different contexts, for understanding and application

Literature is a model, and:

• shows language aesthetically deployed for artistic and expressive purposes
• relatable to historical, social and artistic contexts,
• to encourage empathy and experience of other worlds.
• is a means of exploring new ways of expressing poetic and dramatic interpretation of experience
• has to do with the aesthetic, with patterning, with structure and form
• brings about confidence, awareness, communication, actively critical outlooks,and greater sense of personal identity.

English teachers, from the basis of their specialist skills in language and experience of Literature, should:

• analyse
• enthuse
• be concerned with increasing pupils’ personal confidence and sense of worth.
• encourage active and autonomous learning, equip with skills
• give experience and understanding of other cultures and of a wide range of media