Andrew McCallum
@andrewemc.bsky.social
Director of English + Media Centre; author Creativity + Learning in Secondary English (Routledge); EdD in social distribution of creativity in secondary English; reader
The 2 AL conferences we've run this term to 1800 students have shown how vibrant the subject is in terms of enthusiasm, intellectual curiosity + commitment. This is so heartening for English + added to promising green shoots in the Curriculum + Assessment Review might mark the start of a comeback!
ENGLISH DEGREES ARE GOOD FOR YOU!
Very heartening report from NFER into future employability. If a student has good A Level results then studying English should safeguard them against the coming AI storm.
www.nfer.ac.uk/key-topics-e...
Very heartening report from NFER into future employability. If a student has good A Level results then studying English should safeguard them against the coming AI storm.
www.nfer.ac.uk/key-topics-e...
November 28, 2025 at 10:44 AM
The 2 AL conferences we've run this term to 1800 students have shown how vibrant the subject is in terms of enthusiasm, intellectual curiosity + commitment. This is so heartening for English + added to promising green shoots in the Curriculum + Assessment Review might mark the start of a comeback!
Reposted by Andrew McCallum
Today's emagazine English Language Student Conference is off to a flying start! Our first speaker of the day, George Bailey, spoke about using technology to classify variation between regional dialects.
November 27, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Today's emagazine English Language Student Conference is off to a flying start! Our first speaker of the day, George Bailey, spoke about using technology to classify variation between regional dialects.
In which @englangblog.bsky.social said 67 in front of 800 students and didn't get a single response. The craze is over if your 16/17 years old
Dan speaks about the recent history of the word of the year!
November 27, 2025 at 6:01 PM
In which @englangblog.bsky.social said 67 in front of 800 students and didn't get a single response. The craze is over if your 16/17 years old
Reposted by Andrew McCallum
For the next talk of the day, Jasmine Andersson speaks about claims that accents like the Cockney accent are dying out.
November 27, 2025 at 12:21 PM
For the next talk of the day, Jasmine Andersson speaks about claims that accents like the Cockney accent are dying out.
Fascinating broad sweep of different aspects of language change - No.1 takeaway: early print tried to mimic what written script would look like. No.2: Caxton himself wrote about the problems posed by language change
Simon Horobin delivers a fascinating talk on language change over time!
November 27, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Fascinating broad sweep of different aspects of language change - No.1 takeaway: early print tried to mimic what written script would look like. No.2: Caxton himself wrote about the problems posed by language change
Some very good questions from the students - you can't see them in the picture but there were 800 present!
A fascinating panel discussion with Simon Horobin, Jasmine Andersson and Christian Ilbury at today's emagazine A Level English Language Student Conference!
November 27, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Some very good questions from the students - you can't see them in the picture but there were 800 present!
Really thought provoking stuff in this one, particularly the argument that social media is not driving language change but is drawing on existing language features to grab and hold attention
Our final speaker of the day, Christian Ilbury, speaks about language change and social media.
November 27, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Really thought provoking stuff in this one, particularly the argument that social media is not driving language change but is drawing on existing language features to grab and hold attention
This was such a great day. We've sold out for next week's AL Language conference and December's Poems of the Decade as well. And tickets for our Media Conference went on sale today - and sold out in an hour. So many teachers committed to broadening their students' experiences
We had a fabulous time with over 800 teachers + their students at our emagazine Literature conference yesterday. Here's our panel doing a splendid job at setting out the benefits of a Literature degree.
Next up Language, followed by Poems of the Decade. Both sold out.
Next up Language, followed by Poems of the Decade. Both sold out.
November 19, 2025 at 4:46 PM
This was such a great day. We've sold out for next week's AL Language conference and December's Poems of the Decade as well. And tickets for our Media Conference went on sale today - and sold out in an hour. So many teachers committed to broadening their students' experiences
Reposted by Andrew McCallum
The 8th Reflecting Realities report is yet again a brilliant model of how to research + write with depth, integrity + impact.
We recommend that all teachers read it!
clpe.org.uk/research/clp...
We recommend that all teachers read it!
clpe.org.uk/research/clp...
November 14, 2025 at 1:39 PM
The 8th Reflecting Realities report is yet again a brilliant model of how to research + write with depth, integrity + impact.
We recommend that all teachers read it!
clpe.org.uk/research/clp...
We recommend that all teachers read it!
clpe.org.uk/research/clp...
I've been to all the EMC Media and Film Teachmeets. So much commitment, expertise and knowledge on display
Join us at our Centre on Monday 1st December for an exciting evening event! This will be a great opportunity to share ideas and good practice, and connect with like-minded Media Studies and Film Studies teachers!
Find out more & book: buff.ly/IgyVADZ
Find out more & book: buff.ly/IgyVADZ
November 19, 2025 at 4:43 PM
I've been to all the EMC Media and Film Teachmeets. So much commitment, expertise and knowledge on display
It's fascinating to see how much the students were writing with minimal guidance. So much great material to draw on for formative assessment. It's something @barbarableiman.bsky.social + I will be thinking about in our Big Picture Writing course next week www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/0a4b...
November 19, 2025 at 4:42 PM
It's fascinating to see how much the students were writing with minimal guidance. So much great material to draw on for formative assessment. It's something @barbarableiman.bsky.social + I will be thinking about in our Big Picture Writing course next week www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/0a4b...
That's a lot of courses!
EMC SPRING COURSE PROGRAMME!
Take a look at the exciting package we've put together for next term with lots on offer for specialist of English + Media across all key stages.
26 courses to choose from!
www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/
Take a look at the exciting package we've put together for next term with lots on offer for specialist of English + Media across all key stages.
26 courses to choose from!
www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/
November 19, 2025 at 4:40 PM
That's a lot of courses!
Literature and the art of possibilities. The central protagonist in this gem is Helm, a wind system that torments the upper reaches of the Pennines. Recommended!
November 18, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Literature and the art of possibilities. The central protagonist in this gem is Helm, a wind system that torments the upper reaches of the Pennines. Recommended!
If you missed the @engmediacentre.bsky.social response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review’s report, it’s well worth a read www.englishandmedia.co.uk/blog/emc-res...
EMC response to Curriculum and Assessment Review Report
EMC's response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review, exploring its implications for English and Media teaching in secondary schools
www.englishandmedia.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 7:10 PM
If you missed the @engmediacentre.bsky.social response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review’s report, it’s well worth a read www.englishandmedia.co.uk/blog/emc-res...
Final preparations as we wait to welcome 800+ A Level Literature students & teachers to our emagazine conference @engmediacentre.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Final preparations as we wait to welcome 800+ A Level Literature students & teachers to our emagazine conference @engmediacentre.bsky.social
This is a really interesting reinflection of reading survey data - a welcome move away from the endless doomsaying of decreasing numbers
77% of people who don’t call themselves readers read every week.
Britain doesn’t have a shortage of readers. We have a shortage of people who feel like readers.
It’s time to #RedefineReading.
👉 Explore the new State of the Nation report here: bit.ly/46ItklZ
Britain doesn’t have a shortage of readers. We have a shortage of people who feel like readers.
It’s time to #RedefineReading.
👉 Explore the new State of the Nation report here: bit.ly/46ItklZ
November 13, 2025 at 7:37 AM
This is a really interesting reinflection of reading survey data - a welcome move away from the endless doomsaying of decreasing numbers
Reposted by Andrew McCallum
Exciting news to share! Phoenix Brothers by Sita Brahmachari has been nominated for the 2026 @carnegiemedals.bsky.social Medal for Writing! 🎉
From OUP's Super-Readable Rollercoasters series, this is a moving tale of resilience and identity.
#Carnegies2026 #TeamEnglish @cilip.bsky.social
From OUP's Super-Readable Rollercoasters series, this is a moving tale of resilience and identity.
#Carnegies2026 #TeamEnglish @cilip.bsky.social
November 3, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Exciting news to share! Phoenix Brothers by Sita Brahmachari has been nominated for the 2026 @carnegiemedals.bsky.social Medal for Writing! 🎉
From OUP's Super-Readable Rollercoasters series, this is a moving tale of resilience and identity.
#Carnegies2026 #TeamEnglish @cilip.bsky.social
From OUP's Super-Readable Rollercoasters series, this is a moving tale of resilience and identity.
#Carnegies2026 #TeamEnglish @cilip.bsky.social
Loved this. Loved it even more when I found out the author is an English teacher!
October 27, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Loved this. Loved it even more when I found out the author is an English teacher!
Reposted by Andrew McCallum
If you’re an English teacher, please do this. Your views matter & we want them represented in our survey!
At @engmediacentre.bsky.social
we've been doing a survey of teachers' views on the current state of English teaching. We've had a great response but we'd love more, incl more from out of London. If you're an English teacher please do it. It doesn't take long! www.surveymonkey.com/r/EngTeach2025
we've been doing a survey of teachers' views on the current state of English teaching. We've had a great response but we'd love more, incl more from out of London. If you're an English teacher please do it. It doesn't take long! www.surveymonkey.com/r/EngTeach2025
English Teaching in Your School
Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.
www.surveymonkey.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:41 PM
If you’re an English teacher, please do this. Your views matter & we want them represented in our survey!
Brought half term to a close by reading about 'expressive writing'. So different to today's methods but there's still value in learning to 'write through writing' as @barbarableiman.bsky.social + I hope to show in our 'Big Picture Writing' webinar on Nov 25 www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/0a4b...
October 24, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Brought half term to a close by reading about 'expressive writing'. So different to today's methods but there's still value in learning to 'write through writing' as @barbarableiman.bsky.social + I hope to show in our 'Big Picture Writing' webinar on Nov 25 www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/0a4b...
November's Big Picture Writing webinar with me + @barbarableiman.bsky.social explores 'composition-led writing' - getting something on paper + working with it. It's such an important part of any effective writing pedagogy! www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/0a4b...
October 22, 2025 at 1:26 PM
November's Big Picture Writing webinar with me + @barbarableiman.bsky.social explores 'composition-led writing' - getting something on paper + working with it. It's such an important part of any effective writing pedagogy! www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/0a4b...
Reposted by Andrew McCallum
Last week Hannah Pettit, EMC's social media content creator took part in the BFI LFF Critics Mentorship Programme. We're so proud she won a place on this prestigious programme for budding film critics. Here's what she wrote for The Standard as part of the programme www.standard.co.uk/culture/film...
No Other Choice at LFF: this delirious satire deserves Oscar buzz
This elegant black comedy from Park Chan-wook is a bitingly relevant portrait of pride and self-worth in our corporate hellscape
www.standard.co.uk
October 16, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Last week Hannah Pettit, EMC's social media content creator took part in the BFI LFF Critics Mentorship Programme. We're so proud she won a place on this prestigious programme for budding film critics. Here's what she wrote for The Standard as part of the programme www.standard.co.uk/culture/film...
Reposted by Andrew McCallum
Treat your classes to some wonderful poetry, along with resources designed by @barbarableiman.bsky.social for @poetrydayuk.bsky.social this Thursday! englishandmedia.co.uk/blog/resourc...
Resources for National Poetry Day 2025
Creative approaches to poetry for across all secondary ages, designed by EMC on behalf of Forward Arts Foundation for National Poetry Day 2025
englishandmedia.co.uk
September 29, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Treat your classes to some wonderful poetry, along with resources designed by @barbarableiman.bsky.social for @poetrydayuk.bsky.social this Thursday! englishandmedia.co.uk/blog/resourc...
Reposted by Andrew McCallum
EMC TWILIGHTS ARE BACK
Join us after school on October 23rd for engaging conversation, intellectual stimulation + the leftover refreshments from our 50th birthday celebrations!
Refreshments from 4.30pm
@darrenchetty.bsky.social @barbarableiman.bsky.social
englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/6fae...
Join us after school on October 23rd for engaging conversation, intellectual stimulation + the leftover refreshments from our 50th birthday celebrations!
Refreshments from 4.30pm
@darrenchetty.bsky.social @barbarableiman.bsky.social
englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/6fae...
September 25, 2025 at 1:18 PM
EMC TWILIGHTS ARE BACK
Join us after school on October 23rd for engaging conversation, intellectual stimulation + the leftover refreshments from our 50th birthday celebrations!
Refreshments from 4.30pm
@darrenchetty.bsky.social @barbarableiman.bsky.social
englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/6fae...
Join us after school on October 23rd for engaging conversation, intellectual stimulation + the leftover refreshments from our 50th birthday celebrations!
Refreshments from 4.30pm
@darrenchetty.bsky.social @barbarableiman.bsky.social
englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/6fae...
The literary mind has much to tell & learn from the field of cognitive science. Very little of it bears any relationship to cogsci approaches imposed generically across subject areas 🙄
September 25, 2025 at 1:02 PM
The literary mind has much to tell & learn from the field of cognitive science. Very little of it bears any relationship to cogsci approaches imposed generically across subject areas 🙄