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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 2h

Everybody should be a 'poetry person' today! poetrybyheart.com/poems/hey-yo... @poetrydayuk.bsky.social @poetrybyheart.bsky.social

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Another really lovely, heartwarming novel for children by @coralrumble.bsky.social about a boy whose family skeletons and secrets turn out to be more important than the story of the skeletons of drowned local sailors he thinks he's investigating! Thank you for the book, Coral!

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Rachel Burrows @rburrows.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Come and check out out this great little collection of ‘wonder’ poems - whether you want to use them as a #teachingresource or just have a day filled with wonder! 🤩 🍅 📎🥒🪰One more sleep til @poetrydayuk.bsky.social #poetry

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English and Media Centre @engmediacentre.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Resource written by Barbara herself - a benchmark of quality! There are lots of poems you'll never have come across before as well

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Which do you like best? Which makes you smile? Which fills you with surprise, joy and wonder? Which will your students pick on Thursday and what will it prompt them to write about themselves? Don’t be left out or leave out your students! Join the excitement on @poetrydayuk.bsky.social

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English and Media Centre @engmediacentre.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

EMC CPD Webinar: How to Promote Reading for Pleasure "Hugely valuable and informative as always. Jam-packed session with lots of top tips, affirming reminders and practical modelling to take straight back into the classroom and workplace." - Leanne Appleby Book by: 8am on 9th Oct buff.ly/tozYEmQ

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EMC CPD Webinar: How to Promote Reading for Pleasure

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. NB: This is a repeat…

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English and Media Centre @engmediacentre.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

EMC CPD Face-to-Face: Refresh Your Approach to King Lear for A Level Literature "I've taught King Lear for decades but came away with a refreshed view of not just the play but ways in which I can deliver it." - Nathan Baldock, Harris Academy St. John's Wood. Book by: 8am on 8th Oct buff.ly/Za1Njd3

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EMC CPD Face-to-Face: Refresh Your Approach to King Lear for A Level Literature

A cross-specification course to reinvigorate both your own reading of King Lear and your teaching strategies. (Includes a print & digital copy of EMC's Studying King Lear.) NB:…

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English and Media Centre @engmediacentre.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

You only have until 5pm on Wednesday 30th September to purchase one of our termly webinar packages, which grants you and your department access to every webinar we're running in the autumn term and handy resources linked to each one. Buy yours here: buff.ly/V60RCgC

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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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

English teachers, this is for you! A free @engmediacentre.bsky.social download resource for @poetrydayuk.bsky.social this Thursday. It's a ready-made, doable activity, for KS3-5, fully resourced, with poems on 'Wonder' that offer our own angle on the theme. www.englishandmedia.co.uk/blog/nationa...

englishandmedia.co.uk

National Poetry Day 2026, Thursday October 1st –An EMC Activity

Wonder – an EMC resource for National Poetry Day 2026.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I've been doing some 'admin' on my poems today & realise how many I've written - many read to the grandsons, some published, some hopeless efforts, others waiting for a home. Here's one I've unearthed that will be just right for my lovely 10-month-old granddaughter!

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Faculty of English, University of Oxford @engfac.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Next up in our #Shakespeare webinar series is RICHARD III. Emma Smith @oldfortunatus.bsky.social will be joined by Susan L. Anderson (Mary Baldwin University) to discuss the new Oxford World's Classics edition of the play. 5 October | 6-7.15pm (BST) This is a free public event & all are welcome!

shakespeare-webinar-richard-iii.eventbrite.co.uk

English Faculty/OWC Shakespeare Webinar: Richard III

In this free webinar, Professor Emma Smith will be discussing the new edition of Richard III from Oxford World's Classics.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

It’s just arrived and I’m getting stuck into @attielime.bsky.social’s fabulous new book. What a treat - crunch, crunch, crunch! Delicious!

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I've been devising a resource for @engmediacentre.bsky.social for @poetrydayuk.bsky.social on Thursday 1st Oct - a simple, doable activity fuelled by fabulous poems that take an unusual angle on the theme of 'Wonder'. If you're an English teacher, watch out for it on EMC website - up by Monday!

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Higher Education risks irreversible damage, says British Academy president Prof Susan Smith, with humanities and social sciences disciplines disappearing in many cold spots. BA is tracking subject provision & calling for a comprehensive review www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/stateme...

thebritishacademy.ac.uk

British Academy President: UK higher education crisis risks irreversible damage

As course closures, shrinking provision and widening regional inequalities threaten the future of UK higher education and research, President of the British Academy, Susan J Smith calls for an immedia...

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DamsonEd @damsoned.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

The Reading Framework has some aspects of it too. I know of several pieces of research that have been mis-used (not least the SVR!). ☹️

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Excellent blog. There were very serious concerns about the English Research Review, as well as the Mathematics one.

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Joshua Seigal - 'YAPPING AWAY' out now! @joshuaseigal.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

ATTENTION TEACHERS! Would you like to have a poet in your school, but struggling for cash? You can apply for a £500 grant, courtesy of Tower Poetry Schools Grant. Info here: www.chch.ox.ac.uk/tower-poetry... Please check out my website to book me: www.joshuaseigal.co.uk. Pls share! #EduSky #BookSky

chch.ox.ac.uk

Tower Poetry Schools Grants

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Wrote 3 poems - two quite jokey ones on Halloween, one more riddling one about autumn. My grandson picked the autumn one as his favourite - to my surprise. A sign of him growing up, or maybe just a better poem?

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DamsonEd @damsoned.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Fantastic article by Christian pointing out why it isn’t really justified to draw causal conclusions about the effect of policy decisions from PISA. The results aren’t really worth celebrating… and are showing some worrying trends that need careful reflection. www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

tes.com

Are England’s Pisa 2025 results really worth celebrating?

The latest Pisa international study has sparked many far-reaching claims that stretch what the data tells us - and England’s scores in reading and maths aren’t worth writing home about anyway, says Ch...

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Very excited to receive a copy in the post today! Thank you @coralrumble.bsky.social It looks geat. I'll read and respond soon.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Really excellent Editor’s Briefing on PISA in @tesmagazine.bsky.social email this morning by @jonsevers.bsky.social Worth signing up to read the whole thing but here’s one good passage.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I wrote a clutch of poems at @carolebromley.bsky.social's fab workshop 2 weeks ago. This pm I've done some more work on a few - on Halloween, autumn, a message to my 10-year-old self & school routines. I've sent one off as a submission to a website & will look for homes for the others at some point!

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Tanita Tikaram @tanitatikaram.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

What I love about Western democracy is you can bung a political party £ 36 million earned from criminal activity & most media will continue to point at asylum seekers & migrant care workers with families as the barbarians at the gate we need to defend ourselves from 🙄.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I’m delighted that one of my poems for Tyger Tyger magazine has been put into a collection for National Poetry Day on the theme of Wonder. There are lovely resources to accompany it & the other ‘wonderful’ poems! tes.com/teaching-res...

tes.com

Poems about Wonder - poetry pack for National Poetry Day 2026 | Teaching Resources

A free set of twenty poems on the National Poetry Day 2026 theme of Wonder. These are original, contemporary poems published on Tyger Tyger Magazine, a prestigious o

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

An important fresh bit of research on the KS2 grammar test & whether it improves writing. It's important because it tracks actual students, their scores & answers in the test through to their GCSE written work. Spoiler: it does not improve their writing! theconversation.com/compulsory-g...

theconversation.com

Compulsory grammar tests in England’s schools aren’t improving children’s writing

Teachers have gained some skills, but the GPS test is not an effective means of helping pupils become better writers.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

This is a lovely opportunity for English Lit students of secondary school age - and so great to see that there is an opportunity for a creative response or a critical one! englishassociation.ac.uk/the-betty-ha...

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Phil Brickell MP @philbrickellmp.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

🧵1/ I worked in anti-corruption for years before becoming an MP. Nigel Farage has serious questions to answer following the undercover investigation into Reform UK's fundraising practices. This is now for the police and donations watchdog to resolve, but here is what I want to know:

theguardian.com

Reform officials ‘plotted to break law on foreign donations’ in undercover film

Investigation broadcast by Channel 4 News shows man posing as ‘impermissible donor’ paying for polling that helped Reform

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Faculty of English, University of Oxford @engfac.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Our live #Shakespeare webinars continue on 7 Sept at 6pm. Prof Emma Smith will be joined by Dr Harry Newman to explore the new OWC edition of The Winter's Tale, which offers fresh readings of the play’s provocations on genre, psychology, game-play, gender & the role of the non-human. Register now:

shakespeare-webinar-the-winters-tale.eventbrite.co.uk

English Faculty/OWC Shakespeare Webinar: The Winter's Tale

In this free webinar, Professor Emma Smith will be discussing the new edition of The Winter's Tale from Oxford World's Classics.

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Faculty of English, University of Oxford @engfac.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Are you interested in finding out more about studying English at Oxford? Join us at our next #OxOpenDay on 18 Sept at the Schwarzman Centre for taster lectures by Prof Marion Turner & Prof Devyani Sharma & info talks. Plus our students will be available to answer all your questions!

english.web.ox.ac.uk

Open Day for prospective students: 18 September 2026

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

n case you missed it over the summer, EMC has put on its website a report from 2006 on vocational learning at A Level, with an informative overview & why it's valuable for ALL students, not just lower attaining. Worth reading given govt plans & ideas! englishandmedia.co.uk/projects/wor...

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English and Media Centre @engmediacentre.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

We're proud of our 25/26 numbers + grateful to everyone who engaged with our work. We think you're inspirational - in your commitment to your students + your understanding of authentic, creative, dialogic approaches to our subjects. Here's to more of the same in 26/27!

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DamsonEd @damsoned.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

This is awful. The HT felt she had no option but to go into school to talk to the inspectors. She was recovering from surgery for breast cancer. I can’t believe Ofsted felt they made an appropriate decision. bsky.app/profile/scho...

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Just finished 'The Correspondent' by Virginia Evans. What a great novel! The use of letters is a tour de force...and not just a method but a key element in the plot and an exploration and meditation on letter-writing. I reckon it'd make a great A Level text, either set text or for NEA!

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Joshua Seigal - 'YAPPING AWAY' out now! @joshuaseigal.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

I am looking for work for the coming year. Workshops/keynotes/performances etc. Please check out my website for FREE poems and resources www.joshuaseigal.co.uk and email me if interested (address on the website). Any reposts hugely appreciated. Big love. #BackToSchool #BookSky #EduSky #KidLitUK

joshuaseigal.co.uk

Joshua Seigal | Official Website

Website of award-winning poet, author, performer and educator Joshua Seigal. Contains free poetry, and lots of information.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

If you subscribe to emag, I'd love to know what you think of the article I've written on themes in drama. It's focused mainly on 'King Lear' to exemplify the ideas but it has wider relevance to thinking about themes in any drama text. Here's the start!

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Trevor Aleo @mraleosays.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Emagazine is incredible and I really wish we had an equivalent publication in the US. Not only does it have fantastic content, but I’ve used it as a collection of “mentor texts” for students to consult when doing academic writing and/or creating magazines.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Delighted to see my poem up here - all about going back to school in September & suddenly remembering what it's like when you smell all those unique school smells. Lots of other lovely poems here to share in that first week back too! Thank you @brianmosespoet.bsky.social

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

My understanding is that The English Review is no longer being published. That means emagazine is the only mag for A Level English Lit. If you used to subscribe to The English Review, do take a look! Subscribe now & you get instant access to the full archive of 1000s of articles & Sept issue online.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Sept emagazine is now online. What a privilege to be able to publish such incredible writing from academics, teachers & students. This issue is a stunner! Don't forget tor renew – or subscribe for the first time. (The website has a sample issue to look at.) www.englishandmedia.co.uk/emc-magazine...

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

I love this blog by my colleague Andrew McCallum about the great talk he saw in English classrooms at Alexandra Park School. Well worth a read! www.englishandmedia.co.uk/blog/learnin...

englishandmedia.co.uk

Learning Through Talk: Observations in a School

Observations about learning through talk in secondary English lessons

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School Reading List @schoolreadinglist.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Poetry books for 5-7 year olds with titles by Michael Rosen, Benjamin Zephaniah, Maya Angelou, Dr. Seuss, Joseph Coelho, Jane Yolen, Nicola Davies, James Carter, Matt Goodfellow, and June Crebbin. schoolreadinglist.co.uk/genres/poetr...

schoolreadinglist.co.uk

Poetry books for 5-7 year olds

Poetry books for 5-7 year olds with titles by Michael Rosen, Joseph Coelho, Nicola Davies, James Carter, Matt Goodfellow, and June Crebbin.

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DamsonEd @damsoned.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

www.theguardian.com/education/20... Correlation is not causation. Also, it is fascinating that most of the people quoted have been involved in promoting the use of tech in schools in different ways. Secondary schools are run on tech- students spend their days looking at ppts.

theguardian.com

‘Our children are less cognitively capable,’ says neuroscientist who wants to cut screen use in schools

Jared Cooney Horvath argues that educational technology undermines how children learn and develop

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clarefeeneyuk.bsky.social @clarefeeneyuk.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

When I work with student teachers on placement at our school, I ask what they've learnt so far about teaching reading. Quite often, they haven't covered anything (unless English trainees) and can't explain to me how they would use a disciplinary text to support reading. I find this surprising.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

I published this article on CPVE & TVEI in 1988. Reading it now, I think there’s a great deal here that is worth knowing & reflecting on in considering new vocational initiatives. .

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Here's my second new poem up on The Dirigible Balloon website. This one's for the theme of 'Flight' and is called 'Feathers'. Do take a look at all the amazing poems up there too! dirigibleballoon.org

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

I'm so pleased to have two new poems up on the wonderful Dirigible Balloon website, the brilliant project of @northernjim.bsky.social! The theme was Fun, Frolicking, Friendship, Fascination and Flying. Here's my first one:

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

This is excellent! The one thing I’d question is the international measures on reading & Maths in PISA and PIRLS. So often quoted as indisputable evidence of higher standards, they are flawed measures. PISA itself has warned against relying on England’s results because of data collection anomalies.

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