Andrew McCallum

I really enjoyed writing this blog about our brilliant Year 12 students' work on their NEA text, Brotherless Night by @sugi.bsky.social - their responses to the novel have been so powerful and it's been a lovely culmination of my work with @engmediacentre.bsky.social this year.

We invited the 25/26 Associate Teachers to our centre yesterday, along with the 24/25 cohort and had a wonderful time discussing all things English

One of the delights of having Associate Teachers with us this year has been the wonderful work they've given us access to

Looking forward to running this one gain next term. It always produces amazing responses from the teachers attending

EMC’s @andrewemc.bsky.social & @barbarableiman.bsky.social are signatories of this letter. Prioritising talk in any curriculum reforms is key to improving outcomes for young people

All the winning films are a joy to watch and looked especially amazing on the big screen at NFT1 last week

Keir Starmer urged to honour pledge to embed speaking skills in England’s schools Alastair Campbell and children’s author Michael Rosen among advocates calling for oracy to be in curriculum

📰 See Guardian coverage here 👇
www.theguardian.com/education/20...

And for 10 years we've had to put up with what was obvious fro the start. This from 2015 englishandmedia.co.uk/blog/english...

More than a week on from our 50th celebration - such a wonderful evening with progressive English + Media voices past, present + future!

It was lovely to see so many teachers coming to the centre after a hard day at the chalkface. Thanks to each + every one, plus Claire Pollard @mediamagemc.bsky.social

Looking ahead to next year's EMC CPD offer, it's thrilling to see @englangblog.bsky.social finding new areas of AL Language to explore. This teacher conference promises to be a 25/26 highlight!

My perfect holiday reading, by Bernardine Evaristo, David Nicholls, Zadie Smith and more From novels and short stories, to biography and history, leading authors recommend their favourite recent books and the ones they can’t wait to dive into

Looking for a last minute summer read? There's still time to treat yourself to a copy of Beyond the Secret Garden by @darrenchetty.bsky.social + @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social. As recommended by @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social in @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...

These Strange New Minds by Christopher Summerfield | Waterstones Buy These Strange New Minds by Christopher Summerfield from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.

Final webinar of 24/25 done + dusted - about using generative AI in English. My thinking evolved during the session. Don't use AI to model writing; use it to mess around with writing, transform, recreate, interrogate, edit, get playful etc. Plus, read this book! www.waterstones.com/book/these-s...

Do read and share! Free and worth debating the individual- social and reflective ways forward rb.gy/4ih4ez @profsarahmcg.bsky.social @kashleyenglish.bsky.social @openuni-rfp.bsky.social @debbiethomas.bsky.social @debrakidd.bsky.social as well as the evidence on the associated benefits of reading!

It was such a privilege to be part of this conference and I was hugely inspired by the other speakers and the wonderful contributions of all the teachers - a powerful reminder that, as @andrewemc.bsky.social put it, “the good stuff works”!

Positive vibes coming from the classroom all day. Do @mediamagazin.bsky.social teachers have the most fun?

Just remembered how often mastery was mentioned in the review's interim report 🙁

Actually it's a prequel! Looking forward to attending the launch at Goldsmiths tomorrow with Sita + @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social (who really does get everywhere - he's in our building right now doing a session with primary teachers!)

Such wise words in the @uklitassociation.bsky.social summer Voices newsletter. Taken from their submission to the Curriculum + Assessment Review. Let's hope they're listened to!

ENGLISH AND INCLUSION CONFERENCE

Can't wait to host these great people at our centre on June 11. Bookings close 2 days before.

Part of our 2-for-1 offer so not many slots left if you haven't yet booked @teresacremin.bsky.social @darrenchetty.bsky.social

www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/4536...

We've had the privilege of working with 10 extremely talented teachers this academic year + are looking to recruit about 5 for next year. Looking forward to reading the applications carefully next week

Yay! I thought our reading likes would coincide on this one!!

A really powerful manifesto to back up Claire Pollard's powerful House of Lords performance @mediamagemc.bsky.social

Great to see schools taking advantage of this offer in various ways. Lots of mixed baskets, but also annual renewals of Christmas Carol, Jekyll and Hyde, Animal Farm etc. at a big discount

It's meant to read 14th June. Still a Saturday!

Phoenix Brothers — Sita Brahmachari Amir has faced more challenges than any teenager should ever have to, all in the simple quest for survival. And he’s finding out that life in his new country is bringing a whole new set of challenges....

I've had the great pleasure of reading an advance copy of Sita Brahmachari's Phoenix Brothers (out 6/6). It's a brilliant sequel to the 'Amir + George' story featured in Iridescent Adolescent + imho is an absolute classic www.sitabrahmachari.com/my-books/pho....

Busy proofing our 25/26 catalogue, which details everything we do at EMC. Very proud that our small team has so much reach - and grateful to all the teachers who put their trust in our work!

.. and a nice flyer if you prefer graphics and QR codes..

PROMOTING THE FICTION EFFECT

Thanks to the super-engaged and inspirational teachers who just took part in our What We Teach When We Teach the Novel at KS3 webinar this afternoon. Here's the closing slide, which sums up for me what makes teaching novels so exciting and interesting

Some interesting mixed baskets so far. Schools taking advantage of the discount to buy class sets of multiple different titles