“I don’t mind a bit of poetry”: a reflection on teaching unseen poetry

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper reflects on the teaching of the unseen poetry element of the English Literature GCSE in 2022. It explores the author’s reflections on the successes and limitations of using a less structured approach with a single Year 11 class, concluding that the pedagogies outlined were more successful than previous iterations in terms of pupil engagement and preparation for high-stakes assessment. However, the approach could have been improved with even less structure early in the unit.