Beyond boundaries: Exploring collaboration in Year 7 writing in English
Written by: Tak-Sang Li
7 min read
TAK-SANG LI, ASSISTANT MASTER (TEACHING AND LEARNING), WESTMINSTER UNDER SCHOOL, UK
Introduction
This case study explores collaborative writing involving Year 7 students in an independent school as part of the English curriculum. Its focus is the way in which such collaborative writing can broaden the scope of traditional writing practices in the English classroom. The agency that the students exercised as they made decisions about the content of their writing is key, as is the podcasting genre in which the students were writing.
Writing beyond the curriculum
When considering the statutory guidance within the National Curriculum programme of study in English in the UK (DfE, 2013, 2014), it is difficult to escape the notion that writing is perceived as little more than an individualistic and technical process for students. However, the publication of the more recent writing framework (DfE, 2025) has shone a welcome light on some of the broader contexts pertaining to the teaching an
Join us or sign in now to view the rest of this page
You're viewing this site as a guest, which only allows you to view a limited amount of content.
To view this page and get access to all our resources, join the Chartered College of Teaching (it's free for trainee teachers and half price for ECTs) or log in if you're already a member.
- Burnett C, Davies J, Merchant G et al. (2014) New meaning-making practices: A charter for literacy education. In: New Literacies around the Globe: Policy and Pedagogy. New York: Routledge, pp. 154–166.
- Cremin T and Myhill D (2012) Writing Voices: Creating Communities of Writers. Abingdon: Routledge.
- Department for Education (DfE) (2013) English programmes of study: Key Stage 3: National Curriculum in England. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7b8761ed915d4147620f6b/SECONDARY_national_curriculum_-_English2.pdf (accessed 14 July 2025).
- Department for Education (DfE) (2014) National Curriculum in England: English programmes of study. Available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-english-programmes-of-study/national-curriculum-in-england-english-programmes-of-study (accessed 14 July 2025).
- Department for Education (DfE) (2025) The writing framework. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/686e7890fe1a249e937cbecb/The_writing_framework.pdf (accessed 14 July 2025).
- Wohlwend KE (2018) Play as the literacy of children: Imagining otherwise in the contemporary childhoods. In: Alvermann DE, Unrau NJ, Sailors M et al. (eds) Theoretical Models and Processes of Literacy, 7th ed. New York: Routledge, pp. 301–318.
Please login to comment
0 Comments
Oldest
