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
Lots of early interest in the new offering from @englangblog.bsky.social - teacher conference about social and occupational groups
A LEVEL ENGLISH LANGUAGE SPRING COURSES
Check out all of the A Level English Language courses we're running in the spring term! They're all available to book now on our website: www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/
Check out all of the A Level English Language courses we're running in the spring term! They're all available to book now on our website: www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/
December 11, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Lots of early interest in the new offering from @englangblog.bsky.social - teacher conference about social and occupational groups
A Level Literature courses were particularly popular this term, so worth booking ahead for these ones to avoid disappointment!
FULL DAY A LEVEL ENGLISH LITERATURE SPRING COURSES
We've got plenty of English Literature CPD coming up in the spring term, and here are all of the full day courses we're running! If you're able to join us in person, don't hesitate to book your place on one of these now: buff.ly/eMAxWdo
We've got plenty of English Literature CPD coming up in the spring term, and here are all of the full day courses we're running! If you're able to join us in person, don't hesitate to book your place on one of these now: buff.ly/eMAxWdo
December 11, 2025 at 2:17 PM
A Level Literature courses were particularly popular this term, so worth booking ahead for these ones to avoid disappointment!
Three new webinars timed to give you fresh ideas in the run-up to final examinations!
SPRING TERM REVISION COURSES
We've got a few revision-specific courses planned for the spring term, so if you're looking for practical and effective strategies to help students' revision, look no further! www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/
We've got a few revision-specific courses planned for the spring term, so if you're looking for practical and effective strategies to help students' revision, look no further! www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/
December 11, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Three new webinars timed to give you fresh ideas in the run-up to final examinations!
There's a really strong community of media teachers out there - hence we can put on the free events and be confident they will come!
SPRING TERM MEDIA STUDIES COURSES
We've got some great Media Studies courses coming up in the spring term along with some exciting free planning events towards the end. All available to book on our website now: www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/
We've got some great Media Studies courses coming up in the spring term along with some exciting free planning events towards the end. All available to book on our website now: www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/
December 11, 2025 at 2:16 PM
There's a really strong community of media teachers out there - hence we can put on the free events and be confident they will come!
These read like a checklist for anyone involved in developing media literacy in the National Curriculum to take heed of
Train to teach Media + Film on the EMC/ Goldsmiths PGCE and you'll work to these core principles, as developed by course leader @mediamagemc.bsky.social editor, Claire Pollard.
www.englishandmedia.co.uk/projects/pgc...
www.englishandmedia.co.uk/projects/pgc...
December 11, 2025 at 2:15 PM
These read like a checklist for anyone involved in developing media literacy in the National Curriculum to take heed of
Here's the opening to my piece in latest emagazine. Eco-lit is an ever-expanding field that offers students fascinating opportunities for analysis. Elif Shafak's The Island of Missing Trees, new to AQA AL Lit, is no exception. What's not to love about a novel narrated in large parts by a fig tree?!
December 1, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Here's the opening to my piece in latest emagazine. Eco-lit is an ever-expanding field that offers students fascinating opportunities for analysis. Elif Shafak's The Island of Missing Trees, new to AQA AL Lit, is no exception. What's not to love about a novel narrated in large parts by a fig tree?!
Delighted to have my own article in there about new AL Lit text for AQA, The Island of Missing Trees, by Elif Shafak. If you're looking for a new text to teach, it's worth considering. Lots for students to get their teeth into
Latest emagazine available for web subscribers
Packed with great articles for AL Literature and Language students and looking as splendid as ever!
www.englishandmedia.co.uk/emc-magazines/
Packed with great articles for AL Literature and Language students and looking as splendid as ever!
www.englishandmedia.co.uk/emc-magazines/
December 1, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Delighted to have my own article in there about new AL Lit text for AQA, The Island of Missing Trees, by Elif Shafak. If you're looking for a new text to teach, it's worth considering. Lots for students to get their teeth into
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!