Government plans of changes to the education system have been branded as ‘impoverishing’ teaching

In response to the recently publicised government’s plans to changes in Education, such as higher standards in English, The National Association for the Teaching of English states that he plans will ‘impoverish’ teaching

Its chairman, Dr Simon Gibbons, chairman of the association and expert in English education at King’s College, London, says the reforms are based on ministers' "diminishing memories of their own grammar-and public-school educations". He warns that such an approach will turn pupils off the subject.

He told the BBC News website: "Most English teachers try to teach grammar in context rather than through formal exercises. T here's very little evidence of a benefit to teaching grammar in that way.

He also criticised plans to introduce a new national grammar test, called the technical aspects of English, for all pupils in the top year of primary school.

The test, which will be sat for the first time by pupils next summer, measures children's ability to "demonstrate their knowledge of grammatical tests", he said.

The Department for Education said the draft programmes of study were subject to an informal consultation to invite debate.

It added: "The draft programme of study for English at primary school will be far more rigorous than before.

"It will demand higher standards from pupils aged five to 11, with a higher expectation of what children should know as they go through primary school.

"Its aim is that children in England will leave primary school with a strong command of written and spoken English, and high standards of literacy."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18632399