Reading the Word Instead of the World: GCSE English Re-sits and the Divorce of Literacies from Their Lifeworld Use

This paper explores GCSE English re-sits in post-16 education. The re-sit policy was introduced England and Wales to improve national literacy rates, yet persistently poor pass rates have drawn robust criticism of the policy. article argues that traditional discourses predominate contribute towards antagonisms between students subject English. high-stakes nature qualification associated performativity pressures compound difficulties. High levels test-teaching technique-spotting impair ambit programme deliver type which purports improve. autoethnographic study correlates landscape with Paulo Freire’s ‘banking model’ education uses work New Literacies Studies suggest dominant “autonomous” are impeding educators’ appreciation literacies as situated practices.