Task 1: Look at the new (2014 onwards) programmes of study for KS3 and KS4 in English so that you are familiar with them 

Task 2: Complete the GCSE exam papers in blue/black pen. Then, in green pen, annotate your script and write down any misconceptions or problems you think students are likely to have.

Subject Knowledge Audit

During your training with Cheshire East SCITT you will need to identify your strengths and weaknesses within your own Subject Knowledge.  When the course begins, the audit will also be used to informal planning for further development of “key gap areas” of subject knowledge, which alongside your subject specialist will be able to discuss plans for further development.

This audit is based on the National Curriculum (NC) for English teaching in schools.  The National Curriculum Programmes of Study (PoS) that started in 2014 is available for reference at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-english-programmes-of-study.

The  Programme of Study for Key Stage 3  in English differs to that which you may have already experienced as a learner yourself.  This audit covers general areas of the English curriculum that are practical for you to develop, if necessary, before joining the course, and also in the early part of the programme so that you are prepared for teaching across all aspects of the subject, both during the coming year and beyond.   

You might describe this as an audit of your knowledge about what to teach in English - or at least some of it. This will form a good starting point for considering the next level, which concerns developing your understanding of how to apply your subject knowledge in teaching English. Once on the PGCE programme, you will have opportunities to discuss these audits with your fellow trainees, your tutor and mentor, and to review them throughout the year.

How to use this audit

*    Read the audit before completing any of it, in order to get a sense of what is covered here.
*    Against each 'area of subject knowledge', make some brief notes in the 'current expertise' column, indicating the extent of your knowledge about the particular topics covered and where you think you may have areas to develop.
*    For any areas to develop, read the 'suggestions for further development' and decide what you are going to do. You might like to highlight suggestions you want to follow up and even write in further suggestions of your own.
*    Set yourself a plan for following up these suggestions between now and the start of the course. 
*    A few days before the start of the  course, fill in the final 'evidence' column showing how you have started to develop your
subject knowledge.
*    You will be able to discuss this audit with your tutor and mentor when you start the programme.