The English language plays a very important role in the National Curriculum (NC). Great demands are made of teachers at secondary schools to teach complex linguistic and grammatical concepts, as laid down in the NC. Table 1 below summarises the main points of grammar required of students at Key Stages 3-5 (or, for English for Speakers of other Languages, Entry 3 to Level 2). These requirements are extremely demanding for both teachers and pupils.
Most English teachers have received limited linguistic training at teacher training college. Hudson and Walmsley (2005: 616) write: