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How a special CPD programme is helping schools boost literacy across the curriculum
In 2018, Northumbria University was awarded government funding to develop a ‘widening participation’ English project. The widening…
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How to inspire today’s students with Greek mythology
Greek myths are captivating stories, replete with noble heroes, grotesque monsters and capricious gods. Much like the Marvel universe, no…
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Why a school trip to the theatre has real educational value
Do you remember your first visit to the theatre? A trip to see a play or show can often be a highlight of the school year – indeed,…
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Is your school making the most of its library management system?
A Library Management System – or LMS – is the central system for any secondary school library. The days when you would borrow a title…
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The importance of LGBT+ voices in fiction for young people
I was finishing a book signing after a school event, and this boy (he was about 14), and his best friend came up to me. I’ve found the…
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In a world of fake news, critical literacy is a key skill for students
I started high school in 2007, a shy girl who didn’t really have a specific subject that filled me with enjoyment and enthusiasm. The high…
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How to support struggling Y7 readers and boost literacy across the curriculum
A year ago, I made an unexpected move from a mainstream middle school to a special school. I’d become disillusioned with teaching and…
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Improve pupils critical literacy skills to help them tackle fake news
Whilst so-called ‘fake news’ is not a novel phenomenon, the rise of digital media has seen it take on a new, more menacing form, as…
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Innovative strategies to teach Shakespeare’s language at Key Stage 3
Shakespeare’s plays are timeless classics, invariably taught in schools around the world. Yet how many children actually understand the…
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How combining literature and enterprise is raising attainment in one South London school
Harris Girls’ Academy in East Dulwich has got a bookshop. An actual bookshop; run by students for students, in a school where vouchers are…
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How to get secondary students reading for pleasure
English teacher Luke Richardson, of Nottingham, is trialling PAWS For Reading with his KS3 students to develop not only their reading, but…
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Use the idea of travel to improve creative writing
Many years ago I was a travel journalist for The Guardian; one of the best assignments of my life was to travel around the world for a year…
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Using Shakespeare to help the transition from Y6 to Y7
Effective transition between Key Stage 2 and 3 is essential if secondary schools are going to establish the right ethos and expectations for…
