Anthony Cockerill

Honoured to write this.

Great to be representing @NATEfeed.bsky.social at English: Shared Futures today. I’ve led a workshop in York’s Guildhall on teaching creative writing through moving image. Looking forward to @barbarableiman.bsky.social with Andrew McCallum, Kate Bomford and Thomas Karshan this afternoon.

How can the process of storyboarding film help our students write compelling prose? - National Association for the Teaching of English By borrowing structural and visual techniques from film, students can plan and draft prose with greater clarity, control, and creativity — making their writing more structured, immersive, and compelli...

By borrowing structural and visual techniques from film, students can plan and draft prose with greater clarity, control, and creativity — making their writing more structured, immersive, and compelling, says Anthony Cockerill. www.nate.org.uk/2025/05/23/h... #NATE #illumiNATE

It's been a privilege to publish some fabulous articles for our illumiNATE series in the last few weeks. Here's an awesome contribution from Jessica De Waal: Ted Hughes, poetry, creative writing. Can't recommend it highly enough.

Coming this Friday in illumiNATE: what does it mean to ‘capture’ an animal in poetry? By using the work of Ted Hughes, Dr. Jessica De Waal explores the ways students can be empowered to create their own vivid descriptions that powerfully evoke the natural world. #illumiNATE #NATE

Why a thematic curriculum is brilliant for Key Stage 3 English (and why it’s also great for your GCSE students too) A thematic curriculum allows us to learn about those important touchstones of literary study alongside cultural totems of our time. Why a thematic curriculum? Spoiler alert. In the excellent film A…

With all this talk of how to structure curriculum for KS3 English, it’s a good time to reshare: ‘Why a thematic curriculum is brilliant for Key Stage 3 English’. anthonycockerill.com/2019/05/24/t...

Why a thematic curriculum is brilliant for Key Stage 3 English (and why it’s also great for your GCSE students too) A thematic curriculum allows us to learn about those important touchstones of literary study alongside cultural totems of our time. Why a thematic curriculum? Spoiler alert. In the excellent film A…

Absolutely. I suggested one a few years back in this blog post - sharing as an antidote! anthonycockerill.com/2019/05/24/t...

Absolutely!

Many thanks Andrew, and it's good to hear you've enjoyed my first issue. Thank you for your excellent contribution on behalf of @engmediacentre.bsky.social!

To celebrate @worldbookday.bsky.social at NATE, members of our team want to share what they’re reading. Sue, our Vice-Chair, says: ‘I'm reading Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano, who captures the voice of a traumatised 12 year old boy very convincingly.’ #worldbookday

To celebrate @worldbookdayuk.bsky.social at NATE, members of our team want to share what they’re reading. Anthony, NATE’s Director, says: ‘I’ve been reading Charles Portis’s novel True Grit: a fabulous story told in the idioms of the American South - evocative and unforgettable.' #WorldBookDay

illumiNATE, Issue 101 When Year Eleven students read: ‘Are there no Prisons?’ said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. ’Are there no workhouses?’ in A Christmas Carol, their GCSE text, they…

Through role-play and hands-on activities at Ripon’s Workhouse Museum, Sarah Geary’s Year Eleven students gained a vivid understanding of Victorian poverty and the harsh realities of life for the destitute.👇#NATE #illumiNATE #teamenglish

Anthony Cockerill - Director of the National Association for the Teaching of English (NATE) - York The Leading, Language and Literature Podcast · Episode

Great to hear @thecockerill.bsky.social talking to Chris Jordan about curriculum, themes and concepts — and thanks both for the lovely words about the NATE community and membership! #NATE open.spotify.com/episode/4HFB...

Last week Beyond the Secret Garden by @darrenchetty.bsky.social + @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social got the launch it deserved at a wonderful event. A must read for educators everywhere! www.englishandmedia.co.uk/publications...

In the spring issue of Teaching English, published early in March, Alison Binney and Lizzi Rawlinson-Mills explore the self-perceptions of trainee teachers of their identity as writers. #NATE #teamenglish

Using a historical story with a big focus on world-building has massively improved my teaching of Francis Drake this year. Just love the details such as being called 'El Draque', the connections with Christopher Hind, the little detail of Burghley refusing his 'gold bars' - all reveals so much!

In this Friday's illumiNATE, Faye Griffiths asks if copywork can help build our students' writing stamina. #NATE #teamenglish

In the spring issue of Teaching English, to be published early in March, Arthur Sawbridge will ask if we can ease students through the transition from KS4 to KS5 and to university level study by making questions of literary theory more engaging. #NATE #teamenglish

Our email newsletter, illumiNATE, is all about inspiration and ideas we can put into practice in the classroom. We'd love to hear from you. If you'd like to share a short article with NATE members and subscribers, drop Anthony a message at director@nate.org.uk. #NATE #teamenglish

illumiNATE, Issue 99: Anne Enright's story 'The Weight' can be a great stimulus for discussion of narrative possibilities and technique: mailchi.mp/nate.org.uk/...

Why a thematic curriculum is brilliant for Key Stage 3 English (and why it’s also great for your GCSE students too) A thematic curriculum allows us to learn about those important touchstones of literary study alongside cultural totems of our time. Why a thematic curriculum? Spoiler alert. In the excellent film A…

It was great to revisit my blog post 'Why a thematic curriculum is brilliant for Key Stage 3 English' with Chris Jordan this morning, for his fabulous podcast. anthonycockerill.com/2019/05/24/t... #NATE #teamenglish

Many thanks, Pete. It’s great to be getting going in the new role!

It also speaks volumes about how that somehow controversial notion of ‘fun’ can be an intrinsic part of the discipline in practice.

Seamus and Year Eight and me In Reading Lessons, I write about the shadow colleagues who share my classroom and help with my lessons: the novelists and poets and playwrights without whom I couldn’t do my job. This week, with Y…

Fantastic blogpost, saying so much about #English_teaching, from @CarolAtherton8. passing-it-on.com/2025/01/12/s...

NATE News - Autumn 2024 - NATE NATE News – Autumn 2024 Welcome to the latest edition of NATE News, where we have...

If you missed it first time, check out NATE News from the autumn term. A highlight is Emma Leeson, Training and Resources Lead at SAPERE, the UK charity for philosophical enquiry, who engages reluctant readers by asking the big questions...

Good luck in your new post! Looking forward to thinking & working together in times ahead 😊

Thank you, and I’m looking forward to thinking and working together too!

Thank you, everyone @engmediacentre.bsky.social! I’m looking forward to collaborating with you too. Here’s to a great 2025!

Warm message of subject unity from @natefeed.bsky.social's Director + Subject Lead @thecockerill.bsky.social. Wishing you all success in your role Anthony + looking forward to collaborating in the future! mailchi.mp/nate.org.uk/...