Roger McDonald
rogmcdonald.bsky.social
Roger McDonald
@rogmcdonald.bsky.social
Mountain walker and runner. Associate Professor in Primary Education. Interest in imagination, passionate and purposeful teaching for the empowerment of young people. Reading for Pleasure.
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Are you from a Primary or Secondary school where reading for pleasure is securely developed? If so, you may be interested in the UKLA and Open University Reading for Pleasure Quality Mark. Come to our CPD and information session on Tuesday 25th March 2-4pm to find out more www.trybooking.com/uk/DZPF
Reposted by Roger McDonald
Excellent and engaging conversation between Zack Polanski and Natasha Devon about education and how Michael Gove and austerity have between them caused a mental health crisis among young people. Enjoyable despite the challenging topic.
Great conversation with @natashadevon.bsky.social - How the Education system became a mental health crisis.

Full YouTube Premiere at 7pm.

youtu.be/308kvoBM3xw?...
November 13, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Fantastic to have @migrationmuseum.org with the amazing University of Greenwich BA QTS students today. Exploring, questioning and celebrating who we are.
November 5, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Reposted by Roger McDonald
"He's done everything he could to break down this country, and now he's going off to tell everyone abroad how broken we are."

Nigel Farage loves the UK so much, he flew to America this week to tell Congress how awful it is. Is this patriotism?
The shameless hypocrisy of Nigel Farage | The News Agents
Nigel Farage has been branded a “Putin-loving free speech impostor and Trump sycophant” during his visit to the US to plead for help with Britain's so-called ‘free-speech problem.’ But will slagging…
www.thenewsagents.co.uk
September 6, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Reposted by Roger McDonald
Delighted this edition is now out with 64 contributors!! @primaryenglish.bsky.social @primaryteachew.bsky.social @kashleyenglish.bsky.social @openuni-rfp.bsky.social @rogmcdonald.bsky.social Built to last with classroom teachers voices too!
July 14, 2025 at 7:22 AM
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Booking now LiVE for our Oct. 18th Conference! tinyurl.com/bn6d2x3m Milton Keynes 🎈Do Join us! 🎈@openuni-rfp.bsky.social @jonnybid.bsky.social @readingrocks.bsky.social @kashleyenglish.bsky.social @debbiethomas.bsky.social An engaging reading community focused day 🎈@uklitassociation.bsky.social
June 16, 2025 at 7:49 AM
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Wonderful @openuni-rfp.bsky.social @uklitassociation.bsky.social Student Teacher #readingforpleasure Ambassadors presentations tonight! From universities across the country! Future Reading Teachers! @rogmcdonald.bsky.social @kashleyenglish.bsky.social @debbiethomas.bsky.social
June 11, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Reposted by Roger McDonald
In his latest piece for the Church Times, @stevechalke.bsky.social argues that alongside national conversations about masculinity, violence and smartphones, we need a conversation about the spiritual health of our young people.

👉 Read more here: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/topics/young-people
April 8, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Don't miss out on a chance to apply to be in the 2025/26 cohort of schools working towards the prestigious UKLA/OU Reading for Pleasure Quality Mark. The Quality Mark is open to Primary and Secondary settings which have RfP developed across the provision. www.trybooking.com/uk/events/la...
March 24, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Reposted by Roger McDonald
The DfE has updated its SEND guidance for school governing boards.

Highly recommend reading. Includes signposting to some useful additional resources & a checklist for governors.

www.gov.uk/government/p...

#SEND #Inclusion #schools #schoolleaders #schoolgovernors
February 24, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Reposted by Roger McDonald
Lie after lie has been told this week about how the Ukraine war started, from the Kremlin and the White House.

Here's our News Agents video essay which explains the truth, and spells out why Trump clings so close to Putin and lives in his warped reality.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cufM...
Ukraine War: The New Trump & Putin Axis Explained
YouTube video by The News Agents
www.youtube.com
February 21, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Reposted by Roger McDonald
In just over a week's time the @uklitassociation.bsky.social online national conference is happening, do join us for a fab morning and taking about the potential for literacy to break boundaries and help children and young people navigate the world we are in ukla.org/nc25/ #EduSky
February 20, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Reposted by Roger McDonald
🗣️We are looking for a new Director of Programmes.

Are you a proactive and collaborative leader with a deep understanding of the educational landscape? We want to hear from you👇

www.prospect-us.co.uk/jobs/190952-...
Director of Programmes - Prospectus Recruitment Agency
Prospectus is delighted to be supporting Voice 21 as they look to appoint a new Director of Programmes – a key senior leadership role supporting with delivery of their new 5-year strategy at a vital t...
www.prospect-us.co.uk
February 14, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Reposted by Roger McDonald
Check out these stunning titles ! www.empathylab.uk/RFE Wonderful to be an Empathy Lab judge alongside @jonnybid.bsky.social @rcharlesworth.bsky.social and many more!
February 13, 2025 at 6:29 PM
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The next Open University/UKLA RfP conference takes place in Doncaster on Saturday 29th March. Fantastic keynotes from author Sufiya Ahmed and @teresacremin.bsky.social, plus some exciting workshops. I'm already looking forward to it! More info here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reading-fo...
February 9, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Reposted by Roger McDonald
UKLA Literacy Special Issue: The Writing Realities Framework and New Directions In Writing Research, Instruction And Learning is guest edited by Ross Young, Felicity Ferguson, and Doug Kaufman and now available online: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17414369/2025/59/1
February 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM
We currently have spaces for schools to take part in our 2025/26 professional development course 'Professionals: Implementing Change'. Our Professionals: Implementing Change programme is a bespoke, research based, CPD programme directed to professionals and delivered within your setting.
February 4, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Tom Doust is talking about the importance of imagination in the primary classroom. It is live now- if you would like to come along just pop me an e-mail [email protected]
February 4, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Primary and secondary colleagues, we are holding a Reading for Pleasure CPD event which will include information about the National Reading for Pleasure Quality Mark from the Open University and UKLA. If you are interested, please do sign up.
January 29, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Reposted by Roger McDonald
Do join us in Doncaster in March! Practical, inspirational and evidence informed we’ll share ways to profile choice and voice www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reading-fo... Bookshops + Sufiya Ahmed too! @jonbiddle.bsky.social @imogenm16.bsky.social @kashleyenglish.bsky.social @schoolreadinglist.bsky.social
January 26, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Reposted by Roger McDonald
Reminder! OU/UKLA Reading for Pleasure Quality Mark Introductory Session is happening on March 25th. Interested in taking part in the Quality Mark? Want to access research-informed CPD on Reading for Pleasure? Make sure to get your ticket.
https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/70023
January 24, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Reposted by Roger McDonald
“Morag was a seminal figure in putting children’s literature on the map as a field of academic enquiry.She initiated an undergraduate programme in children’s literature.. became the thriving Centre for Research in Children’s Literature” Remarkable work & legacy. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...
Morag Styles obituary
First professor of children’s poetry at Cambridge, who also worked to promote the teaching, dissemination and understanding of Caribbean poetry
www.theguardian.com
January 22, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Reposted by Roger McDonald
Have you got your tickets for the 2025 UKLA National Conference yet? Taking place over Zoom on Saturday 1st March, and with a brilliant line up of speakers and workshops, it certainly is not one to miss.
January 17, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by Roger McDonald
The @justimaginecentre.bsky.social team put on some amazing free events for pupils & school staff. On Thursday, they're running a poetry session with @jamescarterpoet.bsky.social, @bardymum.bsky.social, Simon Lamb & Stephen Lightbrown. One not to miss! Details here: justimagine.co.uk/evening-in/w...
We Love Poetry! - Just Imagine
We Love Poetry! Join Nikki Gamble as she discusses all things poetry with James Carter, Simon Lamb, Stephen Lightbown and Sarah Ziman
justimagine.co.uk
January 12, 2025 at 5:15 PM