Barbara Bleiman
@barbarableiman.bsky.social
Education consultant, writer of fiction & children's poetry; passionately committed to English as a subject, to education, and to the idea that learning is founded on dialogue. Poems on Dirigible Balloon & Northern Gravy.
This is the @engmediacentre.bsky.social response to the CAR. It's a relief & pleasure to find so much to welcome in it. I hope that DfE gets firmly behind the key recommendations & especially that the changes to GCSE English can be brought in as quickly as possible. @beckyfrancis.bsky.social
Here's our response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review. We're v hopeful it holds out the possibility of real change in secondary English - more oracy, media, drama, proper language study + better GCSEs! 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
englishandmedia.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 1:14 PM
This is the @engmediacentre.bsky.social response to the CAR. It's a relief & pleasure to find so much to welcome in it. I hope that DfE gets firmly behind the key recommendations & especially that the changes to GCSE English can be brought in as quickly as possible. @beckyfrancis.bsky.social
Great to see the importance of Oracy being so clearly recognised in the CAR! Congratulations to @voice21oracy.bsky.social @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social and many others & thank you for all your hard work!
Like @voice21oracy.bsky.social, we're delighted to see prominence given to oracy in the recently published Curriculum and Assessment Review. Here's their response voice21.org/voice-21-res...
Voice 21 responds to the Curriculum and Assessment Review - Voice 21
voice21.org
November 6, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Great to see the importance of Oracy being so clearly recognised in the CAR! Congratulations to @voice21oracy.bsky.social @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social and many others & thank you for all your hard work!
This arrived yesterday by @attielime.bsky.social Looking forward to dipping in!
November 6, 2025 at 8:03 AM
This arrived yesterday by @attielime.bsky.social Looking forward to dipping in!
I had a children's poem accepted by @littlethoughtspress.com for their 'Stirring Words' issue. Their lovely editor @clairemtaylor.com asked me to do an interview for their blog. Here it is, along with another poem about my grandparents. www.littlethoughtspress.com/post/intervi...
Interview: Barbara Bleiman
Barbara Bleiman is a London-based ex-English teacher and education consultant at the English and Media Centre (EMC), with a keen interest in poetry. She has written a book about English teaching, What...
www.littlethoughtspress.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:47 PM
I had a children's poem accepted by @littlethoughtspress.com for their 'Stirring Words' issue. Their lovely editor @clairemtaylor.com asked me to do an interview for their blog. Here it is, along with another poem about my grandparents. www.littlethoughtspress.com/post/intervi...
Reposted by Barbara Bleiman
A great day for all the teachers involved. Thanks for doing such a fantastic job again, Jess!
Absolutely delighted to be back at the @engmediacentre.bsky.social for a fun-filled day of Literary Linguistics! Today we’re joined by teachers across the country for our ‘Starting to Teach A level LangLit’ course. Such fun!
November 5, 2025 at 9:36 AM
A great day for all the teachers involved. Thanks for doing such a fantastic job again, Jess!
Reposted by Barbara Bleiman
The much anticipated final report of the Curriculum + Assessment Review is now available. Significant recommendations for English, particularly at GCSE, which we'll be digesting in the coming days + recommend every English teacher reads www.gov.uk/government/p...
Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report
The conclusions and recommendations of the independent review of the curriculum, assessment and qualifications system in England.
www.gov.uk
November 5, 2025 at 10:57 AM
The much anticipated final report of the Curriculum + Assessment Review is now available. Significant recommendations for English, particularly at GCSE, which we'll be digesting in the coming days + recommend every English teacher reads www.gov.uk/government/p...
Here's a little Bonfire Night poem. Maybe some EY, KS1 and 2 teachers might spot it and share it with children. Now that would be just lovely!
November 5, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Here's a little Bonfire Night poem. Maybe some EY, KS1 and 2 teachers might spot it and share it with children. Now that would be just lovely!
My poem in this collection of Bonfire Night poems is from a dog's pov. If you have a dog and have to think about their well-being when all the bangs go off and the sparks fly, your children might enjoy my doggy viewpoint! (Lots of fab human views there too!)
brian-moses.blogspot.com/2024/10/nove...
brian-moses.blogspot.com/2024/10/nove...
Welcome to the Ssssssnake Hotel
NOVEMBER 5th - FIREWORKS & BONFIRES (Copyright to all poems remains with their creators. My thanks to everyone who contributed) My Recipe ...
brian-moses.blogspot.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:59 AM
My poem in this collection of Bonfire Night poems is from a dog's pov. If you have a dog and have to think about their well-being when all the bangs go off and the sparks fly, your children might enjoy my doggy viewpoint! (Lots of fab human views there too!)
brian-moses.blogspot.com/2024/10/nove...
brian-moses.blogspot.com/2024/10/nove...
Interested in the teaching of writing? Do take a look at this great summary from @theclpe.bsky.social of what works in developing writers who are confident, engaged & thoughtful & can draw on their reading to give voice to their ideas in increasingly sophisticted ways. clpe.org.uk/research/wri...
Writing in Primary Schools — What We Know Works | Centre for Literacy in Primary Education
Writing in Primary Schools- What We Know WorksThis publication shares what we know about writing in primary schools.This is part of our free 'What We Know Works...
clpe.org.uk
November 2, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Interested in the teaching of writing? Do take a look at this great summary from @theclpe.bsky.social of what works in developing writers who are confident, engaged & thoughtful & can draw on their reading to give voice to their ideas in increasingly sophisticted ways. clpe.org.uk/research/wri...
A Halloween poetry offering for little 'uns getting geared up for Halloween and donning their costumes, stepping out into the night all prepared to be very scary...and to be very scared!
October 29, 2025 at 4:15 PM
A Halloween poetry offering for little 'uns getting geared up for Halloween and donning their costumes, stepping out into the night all prepared to be very scary...and to be very scared!
Reposted by Barbara Bleiman
Today’s Halloween-based poem is called ‘Pumpkin’.
October 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Today’s Halloween-based poem is called ‘Pumpkin’.
Reposted by Barbara Bleiman
The #cogsci of reading, shared by the people who actually do the research. This will be spectacular!
#ReconstructingReading
bsky.app/profile/jonn...
#ReconstructingReading
bsky.app/profile/jonn...
The #ReconstructingReading online festival takes place during the week of 17th November. @literacy-trust.bsky.social have put together a line-up of outstanding speakers. Tickets are available for individual sessions or the entire week. More info here: literacytrust.org.uk/training-and...
October 29, 2025 at 9:08 AM
The #cogsci of reading, shared by the people who actually do the research. This will be spectacular!
#ReconstructingReading
bsky.app/profile/jonn...
#ReconstructingReading
bsky.app/profile/jonn...
These prompts are a great stimulus for writing. Here's my latest effort!
October 28, 2025 at 11:32 AM
These prompts are a great stimulus for writing. Here's my latest effort!
Fantastic piece! I checked back on my latest poem about animals for little ‘uns - a draft - and found this!
October 25, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Fantastic piece! I checked back on my latest poem about animals for little ‘uns - a draft - and found this!
Reposted by Barbara Bleiman
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...
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!
This is such good news! Children’s fiction is going theough a golden age & that needs recognising, celebrating and nurturing, for all we’re worth! www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
The Children’s Booker prize will tell kids that they matter
As the number of children reading for pleasure hits a record low, the new award highlights its importance for wellbeing, and will give away thousands of books
www.theguardian.com
October 24, 2025 at 10:34 AM
This is such good news! Children’s fiction is going theough a golden age & that needs recognising, celebrating and nurturing, for all we’re worth! www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
Reposted by Barbara Bleiman
@littlethoughtspress.com takes kid lit seriously—and so do we. They’ve been spotlighted for #IndieLitMagGala 2025 for their stunning, thoughtful, contributor-friendly work.
Big thanks to @tracierenee.bsky.social for the beautiful nomination.
Read the full piece: thebrokenspine.co.uk...
Big thanks to @tracierenee.bsky.social for the beautiful nomination.
Read the full piece: thebrokenspine.co.uk...
October 23, 2025 at 8:07 AM
@littlethoughtspress.com takes kid lit seriously—and so do we. They’ve been spotlighted for #IndieLitMagGala 2025 for their stunning, thoughtful, contributor-friendly work.
Big thanks to @tracierenee.bsky.social for the beautiful nomination.
Read the full piece: thebrokenspine.co.uk...
Big thanks to @tracierenee.bsky.social for the beautiful nomination.
Read the full piece: thebrokenspine.co.uk...
A really interesting read on the Children's Poetry Summit blog by John Dougherty about writing children's picture books in poetry. Very insightful and illuminating. Thank you @lizpoet.bsky.social for all your continued work on this wonderful blog! childrenspoetrysummit.com/2025/10/23/j...
John Dougherty: Writing a Rhyming Picture Book
As readers of this blog will be aware, it takes work to write a decent rhyming poem. It’s easy for those who haven’t tried it to think otherwise – rhymes are easy, right? Tight, light, fight,…
childrenspoetrysummit.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:46 AM
A really interesting read on the Children's Poetry Summit blog by John Dougherty about writing children's picture books in poetry. Very insightful and illuminating. Thank you @lizpoet.bsky.social for all your continued work on this wonderful blog! childrenspoetrysummit.com/2025/10/23/j...
Reposted by Barbara Bleiman
We're really keen to get the views of English teachers (in England) about the state of English teaching. If you have a few minutes to fill in our survey, we'd be very grateful.
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 23, 2025 at 8:22 AM
We're really keen to get the views of English teachers (in England) about the state of English teaching. If you have a few minutes to fill in our survey, we'd be very grateful.
Do schools do that thing of SLT following a single child through the school over a whole day e.g. a Y9, in all their lessons, from registration on? I thought it was a brilliant thing to do, to get a student-eye insight into what school/lessons are like. It flagged up patterns & whole school issues!
Can I/we open up a civilised conversation here about boredom in classrooms? I do wonder if some - not all - issues of behaviour/attainment/attendance etc stem from boredom as a result of the recent focus on routines, repetition, lack of responsiveness, choice & student voice.
October 22, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Do schools do that thing of SLT following a single child through the school over a whole day e.g. a Y9, in all their lessons, from registration on? I thought it was a brilliant thing to do, to get a student-eye insight into what school/lessons are like. It flagged up patterns & whole school issues!
Reposted by Barbara Bleiman
FREE EVENT AT EMC TOMORROW
If you missed the deadline for tomorrow's free EMC Twilight but would like to attend, send an email to andrew@englishandmedia.co.uk and we'll look forward to seeing you! Refreshments from 4.30, starts at 5!
If you missed the deadline for tomorrow's free EMC Twilight but would like to attend, send an email to andrew@englishandmedia.co.uk and we'll look forward to seeing you! Refreshments from 4.30, starts at 5!
October 22, 2025 at 1:18 PM
FREE EVENT AT EMC TOMORROW
If you missed the deadline for tomorrow's free EMC Twilight but would like to attend, send an email to andrew@englishandmedia.co.uk and we'll look forward to seeing you! Refreshments from 4.30, starts at 5!
If you missed the deadline for tomorrow's free EMC Twilight but would like to attend, send an email to andrew@englishandmedia.co.uk and we'll look forward to seeing you! Refreshments from 4.30, starts at 5!
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 22, 2025 at 2:43 PM
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
I'm really looking forward to doing this new webinar with @andrewemc.bsky.social. In the light of the new DfE Writing Framework & other recent trends in the teaching of writing, it seems really important to offer principles & practices based on sound linguistics & proven pedagogies!
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 2:36 PM
I'm really looking forward to doing this new webinar with @andrewemc.bsky.social. In the light of the new DfE Writing Framework & other recent trends in the teaching of writing, it seems really important to offer principles & practices based on sound linguistics & proven pedagogies!
This is fabulous! What English teaching is - or should be - all about!
Earlier this term @andrewemc.bsky.social saw an inspirational lesson that was carefully planned to allow learning to take place in multiple ways. It was so good he wrote it up as a blog! www.englishandmedia.co.uk/blog/the-sim...
Reflections on a 'big picture' English lesson
EMC Director Andrew McCallum reflects on the learning that went on at multiple levels in a Year 8 mixed attainment lesson
www.englishandmedia.co.uk
October 22, 2025 at 2:33 PM
This is fabulous! What English teaching is - or should be - all about!