ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the nature of the role of the subject leader and how it has developed. It also explores what specific personal and professional qualities are required to effectively lead a core subject in a primary school. Currently, there are many different titles and names for the role of the English subject leader. A quick survey of forty-five primary schools generated eleven different titles, which included: subject leader for English; English leader. It is important to note that the allocation of responsibility for English was not uniform across all primary schools. The coordination of English might have been assigned to a teacher for any number of different reasons. However, it is equally important to recognise that many primary schools still comprise a small staff workforce, with multiple roles assumed by one teacher.
