This article is concerned with knowledge about language in the English classroom in Scotland, with a particular emphasis on national educational policy.  The article provides a discussion of the main national guidelines on English Language teaching in the primary and early secondary years, as well as some observations on the place of knowledge about language in the Standard Grade qualification.  While inspectors' reports suggests that there is much good practice in relation to knowledge about language in individual classrooms, there is evidence to suggest that, as far as national educational policy is concerned, knowledge about language is marginalised, and aspects of the guidelines are patchy in coverage and somewhat confusing.  The national curricular review of educational provision from ages 3 to 18, ongoing in Scotland, is also discussed. The article concludes with a suggestion that knowledge about language be explicitly assessed as part of the national qualifications in Scotland, so that children can get credit for displaying their understanding of what is already expected of them.