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Andrew McCallum

@andrewemc.bsky.social
324 followers 290 following 252 posts

Director of English + Media Centre; author Creativity + Learning in Secondary English (Routledge); EdD in social distribution of creativity in secondary English; reader

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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Working with Associate Teachers has been one of the highlights of the job for me and the rest of the team over the past couple of years. If you're interested in working with us, look out for the next round of recruitment at the start of the summer term
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Maybe it can't always be visible across individual pieces but comes to fruition over the long term?
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
And by the end of today after the PoD conference opens, the figure will be pushing 3000!
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Good numbers for this cause. Edging towards capacity if we get a few late bookings next week
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
It's been an education proofing it - an astonishing array of knowledge from the THREE authors!
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
I'll be looking at what formative assessment looks like in English - moving away from one-size-fits-all 'next step' approaches + instead focusing on the big picture and moving towards horizons rather than endpoints
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Literature only a part of our work, of course, but a big part
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Wonderful looking archive. I found out yesterday Hall turned down a commission to write the report for the 1966 Dartmouth Conference, which became John Dixon's iconic Growth Through English. Interesting to think how he might have presented things differently www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
Thatcherism via the Walkman: Stuart Hall’s British cultural studies preserved online
Project lead says it celebrates ‘incredible contributions’ Jamaica-born sociologist made to Britain’s culture
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Sounds like fun! I think these things do survive in lots of classrooms but the real shame is that we moved towards introducing lots of this more formally into the curriculum and then took several steps backwards
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
What was going on in some English classrooms in the early 1960s. From John Dixon's brilliant 1991 book www.abebooks.co.uk/Schooling-En...
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Such amazing value. Get your skates on - 49 hours + 22 minutes to buy for your department!
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
This one's running in the classroom next door right now. Lots of thinking, talking and even some singing - courtesy of our favourite Gatsby scholar, Nicolas Tredell
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Bookings closed today so delighted to have recruited 25 teachers for @englangblog.bsky.social 's essential introduction to A Level English Language
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Come and join me in the virtual chatroom!
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Lots of interest ahead of booking. Get ready for tomorrow morning!
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Two days to go to get your package - Autumn or annual
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Only three places left for this one
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Reposted by Andrew McCallum
English and Media Centre @engmediacentre.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
EMC CPD Webinar: How to Promote Reading for Pleasure "An excellent workshop. It included many useful tips and ideas for the classroom and school." - Susie Morrisby, Wycombe Abbey Book by: 8am on 9th October buff.ly/tozYEmQ
buff.ly
EMC CPD Webinar: How to Promote Reading for Pleasure
<p>In this EMC webinar we look beyond quizzes, stickers and certificates to think about how we might promote a genuine love of reading in as many students as possible. <em>NB: This is a repeat…
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Looking forward to sitting on one panel about GCSE English Language reform + chairing another about media literacy in English. Do come and join in the fun - we'll have an @engmediacentre.bsky.social stall too! @aqaeducation.bsky.social @headofenglish.bsky.social www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rethinking...
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English and Media Centre @engmediacentre.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
The new issue of emagazine is out now! It's packed full of fascinating articles on everything from King Lear and words of the year, to pitch, passivity and the importance of place. You can view or renew your subscription (or purchase one if you haven't already) here: tinyurl.com/4rcatkyp
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Reposted by Andrew McCallum
English and Media Centre @engmediacentre.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
EMC CPD Online: Teaching Writing for GCSE – Inspiring Strategies "A very worthwhile investment- I will certainly be back for more next academic year!" - Natasha Cutajar, Oxford Spires Academy Book by: 8am on 18th September buff.ly/DhbYveE
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
These courses have helped 1000s of teachers at the start of their A Level teaching journeys. If a member of your team is about to start teaching A Level we'd highly recommend you book them a place
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Sad to see the death of a literary great - in poetry, fiction & essay writing. His short story collection, Stand By Me, is a personal favourite & a non-fiction passage acts as intro to @engmediacentre.bsky.social ‘s Awe and Wonder anthology of nature writing www.theguardian.com/books/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Wendell Berry, US author, farmer and environmentalist, dies aged 92
Author and Kentucky native, who celebrated the farming world of his home state and warned of the excesses of industrial society, died at home
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English and Media Centre @engmediacentre.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Secure live and on-demand access to every EMC webinar taking place in the upcoming autumn term as well as resources linked to each one with our handy Termly Webinar Package! Click the link to find out more: buff.ly/J7KfuHA
buff.ly
EMC Termly Webinar Package Autumn 2026
EMC Webinar Package Autumn 2026 – live and on-demand access for the whole department to all our Autumn 2026 term webinars for just £195. On sale until 5pm 30th September 2026.
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
A wonderful example of how powerful the creative-critical can be in the classroom
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Reposted by Andrew McCallum
English and Media Centre @engmediacentre.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Welcome back! It's a new academic year and we've got a CPD-packed autumn term coming right up! Click the link below to browse the range of courses happening this term and book your places in advance: buff.ly/vraTuxv
englishandmedia.co.uk
Courses
English & Media Centre - The English and Media Centre is an independent educational charity with a national and international reputation as a Centre of Excellence. It is a development centre, serving…
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
‘the fall in teenagers opting for literature is linked to an unimaginative GCSE (surely something that a new prime minister with an English degree could fix)’ Easy win here, Mr Burnham! www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on humanities cuts in universities: academic departments are more than cost centres | Editorial
Editorial: Literature, the arts and social sciences must not be sacrificed as higher education funding is squeezed
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English and Media Centre @engmediacentre.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
All of our autumn courses, all in one place! At the following link you can download a helpful digest of every EMC CPD course taking place in the autumn term, complete with key details and booking information about each one and organised compactly for easy reference! buff.ly/Smj2O16
buff.ly
EMC Autumn Courses sheet 2026
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
The 1000s of teachers we work with at EMC are not in schools adopting these strange practices but many are. It's important that we push for a system that stops rewarding ways of teaching that, objectively, are not in the best interests of students, nor of English itself
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
50% coursework for AL Lit at the time, so plenty of room to choose interesting, contemporary texts. I was blissfully unaware when I chose it that a televised version had caused a media storm
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Fascinating piece by @iancushing.bsky.social + Sabah Choudrey that challenges the deficit thinking informing lots of current work about oracy www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
An oracy framework for England’s schools: linguistic justice edition
It is September 2028. All schools in England have just started teaching the new national curriculum. As part of this, they are adhering to guidance contained within a new oracy framework, named as ...
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
They do things differently in primary. Teachers working with @theclpe.bsky.social have mapped out a palace on the floor as stimulus for drama and writing activities
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Still don’t know why they only interviewed Anna. The shirt was an error, though!
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
I don’t usually post personal stuff but this seems a good day to mention that Harry Kane once played football in the back garden with my kids. Already a superstar in 2016! www.bbc.com/sport/av/foo...
bbc.com
Kane helps Spurs recruit new charity volunteers
Match of the Day's Leon Mann joins up with Tottenham's Harry Kane as the club tap into their fan base to recruit community volunteers for the Noah's Ark Children's Hospice.
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Lots of fun and wisdom from all the teachers involved - and a real determination to make classrooms as creative as possible. My highlight was writing about a sloth, as guided by @lhenglished.bsky.social
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
The teachers here were developing a performance of Caleb Femi’s ‘Thirteen’. It’s an activity I saw working so well in the classroom and which I’m sure the teachers taking part will use with their students
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Such wisdom from the co-authors of Drama at the Heart of English. I read the introduction to Jane & Maggie’s new book straight after the event and it’s fabulous www.routledge.com/Transforming...
routledge.com
Transforming English Through Drama: Case Studies in Classroom Practice
This unique collection promotes and develops 'drama-in-English’, a hybrid pedagogy combining reader response theory with literacy research and educational drama. Drawing on experienced practitioners' ...
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
What a fantastic day. And what a privilege to hear from such a distinguished speaker at the start of the day - with a very clear message that we need to look beyond policy if we’re to give young people the English lessons they deserve
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English and Media Centre @engmediacentre.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Peter Kahn and Caleb Femi close our Talk, Drama and English teacher conference with a engaging session on the power of poetry!
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
A little bit of the Chelsea Flower Show is being reassembled outside our office door in Webber Street. 👏 @literacy-trust.bsky.social for this 🌻🌳🪏
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Worth noting that the deadline for booking is early tomorrow morning - so falls within the half-term break
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
5 places left for this action-packed teacher conference!
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
These will be amazing! Looking forward to meeting the young film makers when they're shown the BFI Southbank in July
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Happy to report that her behaviour is much improved since her more frequent visits in the days when we were based in Islington
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Keeping in direct contact with classroom practice, learning from these expert teachers, sharing ideas + resources - a definite boon to EMC life + practice
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
That came later for me. As a teacher maybe a little too close to the bone!
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
We're a small team at EMC, trying to do a lot. We're definitely proud of our reach, and proud to be supported by so many teachers committed to inspirational + effective creative pedagogies. Thank you for keeping our charitable work going! englishandmedia.co.uk/media/7128/2...
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
One of my literary heroes. I can honestly say that reading The Burn in the early 90s changed my life
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
The first Community Conversation, Lessons from the Archive - ILEA, Children's Books, and Antiracism, was a huge success with over 60 people attending. This promises to be equally fascinating
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Working on our 26/27 catalogue and hoping to match some of the great numbers from the current academic year
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