The place of English in the secondary curriculum has recently been the subject of debate in the general media, as well as in education circles. This book addresses the key issues of that debate. Separate sections cover the historical background to the debate, including the 1993 rewriting of the English Orders; the major teaching areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing; assessment and the contribution of research to classroom practice in English. Over half the chapters are specially commissioned, exploring some of the most controversial issues, such as the place of grammar and the teaching of Standard English. Novice English teachers should find this a useful introduction to the complexities of their subject. For their more experienced colleagues, it aims to provide a means of keeping up to date with current thinking.