Book Review: How to Lead in Primary EnglishBy Jon Hutchinson, Tricia Statham and Sallie Stanton

Overview

How to Lead in Primary English is an indispensable, research-informed guide for subject leaders tasked with improving the quality and consistency of English teaching across the primary phase. Rooted in evidence and pragmatism, the book bridges the gap between educational research and classroom practice, offering a comprehensive framework for curriculum design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

It is part of the highly regarded How to Lead in Primary… series and reflects the authors’ extensive experience in curriculum leadership, inspection, and professional development. The tone is clear, concise and practical, ideal for time-pressed leaders seeking depth without density.

Structure and Content

The book is organised into ten chapters, each focusing on a critical dimension of subject leadership. The structure builds logically, guiding readers from curriculum intent through implementation, quality assurance, and sustainable improvement.

Chapters 1–4: Establishing a Foundation

These opening chapters explore the core purpose of English as a subject, emphasising reading as the gateway to learning. Hutchinson and his co-authors outline how subject leaders can articulate a coherent curriculum intent, ensuring that vocabulary, grammar, fluency, and comprehension are explicitly and systematically taught. The integration of theory, drawing on cognitive science, reading research, and the EEF’s literacy guidance—is balanced by numerous real-world examples of what effective practice looks like in classrooms.

Chapters 5–7: Developing and Embedding Practice

Here, the authors move from planning to delivery. They unpick key elements of effective English teaching, including reading fluency, writing progression, oracy, and grammar instruction. Case studies and reflective checklists encourage leaders to consider how well teaching across their own school reflects evidence-informed practice. Particularly valuable are the sections on developing teacher subject knowledge and leading professional learning communities.

Chapter 8: Implementing Change

This chapter is the book’s centrepiece. Drawing explicitly on the Education Endowment Foundation’s (EEF) Guide to Implementation (Sharples et al., 2024), the authors model a step-by-step process for leading improvement through the phases Explore, Prepare, Deliver, and Sustain.

 Practical case studies, such as Sunil’s vocabulary project in Aberystwyth and Tanika’s fluency initiative in Leicester, demonstrate how leaders can apply research intelligently in context. The focus on sequenced planning, professional development, and adaptive leadership makes this chapter essential reading for those managing subject-wide change.

Chapter 9: Monitoring and Quality Assurance

This section reframes QA as a process of collaborative inquiry rather than compliance. The authors provide clarity on what leaders should expect to see in classrooms, why it matters, and how to respond constructively when expectations are not yet met.

 The examples of “what leaders expect”, “why it is important”, and “possible responses” offer a model of supportive accountability that aligns with current Ofsted expectations without succumbing to performative practice.

Further sections—such as How Should an English Lesson Look?, Work Scrutiny and Pupil Voice, and Do I Need to Run Ofsted-Style Deep Dives? provide invaluable tools for sustainable QA.

 The authors advocate for intelligent, humane leadership: leaders who understand that improvement stems from trust, professional dialogue and well-sequenced support, not surveillance.

Chapter 10: Sustaining Improvement

This chapter reinforces the importance of embedding change through deliberate practice, reflective review, and coherent professional development. Leaders are encouraged to integrate monitoring findings into their school development plan and to sustain a culture of ongoing improvement.

Style and Accessibility

The writing is concise yet rich in insight. Each chapter includes:

• Practical frameworks (e.g., EEF implementation phases, QA templates).
• Case studies illustrating effective leadership in real schools.
• Reflection questions that invite deep professional thinking.
• Suggested readings for further exploration.

The tone strikes the ideal balance between academic rigour and accessibility, making the book suitable for both new and experienced subject leaders.

Strengths

• Grounded in contemporary research (EEF, Ofsted, Robinson, Quigley, Snowling & Hulme).
• Blends theory with highly actionable strategies.
• Exemplary use of case studies and practical tools.
• Encourages an intelligent, ethical model of leadership based on dialogue and support.
• Aligns seamlessly with national guidance on curriculum and assessment.

Key Takeaways for School Leaders

• Implementation requires patience and precision. Effective change is sustained through deliberate planning and long-term support, not rapid reform.
• Quality assurance should build capacity, not fear. The book promotes open professional conversation as the engine of improvement.
• Curriculum leadership is about coherence. Leaders must connect intent, implementation, and impact through evidence-informed decision-making.
• Deep dives are unnecessary if strong QA systems are already in place. Regular curriculum conversations and pupil voice yield richer insights.

Verdict

How to Lead in Primary English is a model of clarity, research-informed thinking and professional generosity. It distils complex ideas into a format that empowers rather than overwhelms. For English subject leaders, it provides both strategic direction and day-to-day tools. For senior leaders, it offers a blueprint for creating a culture of purposeful, evidence-led improvement.

Highly recommended for:

• English subject leaders and literacy coordinators
• Senior leadership teams overseeing curriculum development
• CPD leads designing professional learning pathways
• Schools preparing for or responding to Ofsted inspection

Rating: ★★★★★

 A thoughtful, authoritative, and deeply practical guide that should be on the desk of every primary English leader.