Jenny Richards
@jennyrichards.bsky.social
Researches rhetoric, history of reading, voice & reading. Edits too. Chair of English Association. Leads The Thomas Nashe Project and The Bee-ing Human Project. Lives in Newcastle, works in Cambridge: https://www.english.cam.ac.uk/people/Jennifer.Richards
January's Wolf supermoon over the meadows, Edinburgh. You can't see it here but it was enormous. Do share your photos if you have any.
January 4, 2026 at 9:32 AM
January's Wolf supermoon over the meadows, Edinburgh. You can't see it here but it was enormous. Do share your photos if you have any.
First full moon (nearly) of 2026, over the meadows, Edinburgh.
January 2, 2026 at 6:37 PM
First full moon (nearly) of 2026, over the meadows, Edinburgh.
Happy 2026 from Edinburgh!
January 1, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Happy 2026 from Edinburgh!
👇
The EA’s response to DfEs #FE #ITE call for evidence is here, to inform new statutory guidance for content & delivery of programmes -to build FE ITE curriculum in subject specific English & for literacy & oracy essential skills training for all #FE teachers.
englishassociation.ac.uk/the-english-...
englishassociation.ac.uk/the-english-...
englishassociation.ac.uk
December 18, 2025 at 1:13 PM
👇
Reposted by Jenny Richards
The EA’s response to DfEs #FE #ITE call for evidence is here, to inform new statutory guidance for content & delivery of programmes -to build FE ITE curriculum in subject specific English & for literacy & oracy essential skills training for all #FE teachers.
englishassociation.ac.uk/the-english-...
englishassociation.ac.uk/the-english-...
englishassociation.ac.uk
December 18, 2025 at 11:15 AM
The EA’s response to DfEs #FE #ITE call for evidence is here, to inform new statutory guidance for content & delivery of programmes -to build FE ITE curriculum in subject specific English & for literacy & oracy essential skills training for all #FE teachers.
englishassociation.ac.uk/the-english-...
englishassociation.ac.uk/the-english-...
Reposted by Jenny Richards
Postcard from Paris
I have been going to Paris to see paintings for 50-plus years. Friday I visited the Louvre’s glorious David show, loved Minimal at the Bourse, but had a harder time at the Fondation Cartier and the Palais de Tokyo. More on the blog.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/postcard-fro...
I have been going to Paris to see paintings for 50-plus years. Friday I visited the Louvre’s glorious David show, loved Minimal at the Bourse, but had a harder time at the Fondation Cartier and the Palais de Tokyo. More on the blog.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/postcard-fro...
Postcard from Paris - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: I have been going to Paris to see paintings for more than fifty years, and Friday was my most recent such trip. I took a break from prepping for the publication of Magic Rays of Lig...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
December 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Postcard from Paris
I have been going to Paris to see paintings for 50-plus years. Friday I visited the Louvre’s glorious David show, loved Minimal at the Bourse, but had a harder time at the Fondation Cartier and the Palais de Tokyo. More on the blog.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/postcard-fro...
I have been going to Paris to see paintings for 50-plus years. Friday I visited the Louvre’s glorious David show, loved Minimal at the Bourse, but had a harder time at the Fondation Cartier and the Palais de Tokyo. More on the blog.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/postcard-fro...
With quotes from @eicathomefinn.bsky.social@eicathomefinn.bsky.social and me on the importance of the return of some element of portability for REF2029. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/half-ha...
‘Half in, half out’ approach to REF 2029 outputs ‘not enough’
Rollback of decoupling researchers from their work questioned despite policy U-turn on books
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 12, 2025 at 10:45 AM
With quotes from @eicathomefinn.bsky.social@eicathomefinn.bsky.social and me on the importance of the return of some element of portability for REF2029. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/half-ha...
Reposted by Jenny Richards
'There in the shadows [of the White Paper] lies the call for HE institutions to specialise, with the lurking threat that many will lose their research funding in some, but perhaps many, areas, in order to better fund those with more intensive research.'
Labour must not repeat history by sidelining research in post-92 universities
The abolition of the binary divide in HE made visible the wealth of research excellence in what became known as the post-92 part of the sector. Katie Normington worries that forcing specialisation ris...
wonkhe.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:48 AM
'There in the shadows [of the White Paper] lies the call for HE institutions to specialise, with the lurking threat that many will lose their research funding in some, but perhaps many, areas, in order to better fund those with more intensive research.'
Menu today at Mary's Milk Bar, Edinburgh. My favourite place for gelato, all year around.
December 4, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Menu today at Mary's Milk Bar, Edinburgh. My favourite place for gelato, all year around.
Reposted by Jenny Richards
Note to UK government 👇👇
@englishassociation.bsky.social
@englishassociation.bsky.social
Thaler's post (click it for graph showing striking decreases in science spending) immediately under yet another repost of this fantastic letter to London Times. And I'd just like to say: can we PLEASE have a Democratic candidate who knows we need a massive reinvestment in US arts & humanities too?
December 2, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Note to UK government 👇👇
@englishassociation.bsky.social
@englishassociation.bsky.social
Reposted by Jenny Richards
The extreme polarization of arts and sciences is a huge mistake and explains some of the rigidity and extremism we see all around us: in education, in recruitment, in our politics. But one mindset alone cannot fix the mess we are in. We need creativity now more than ever
April 23, 2025 at 10:44 AM
The extreme polarization of arts and sciences is a huge mistake and explains some of the rigidity and extremism we see all around us: in education, in recruitment, in our politics. But one mindset alone cannot fix the mess we are in. We need creativity now more than ever
Reposted by Jenny Richards
🥳📚📖Tomorrow ! Free! Online! Sign up! 18 November, 16:45 – 17:30 How schools can nourish a reading-for-pleasure culture with community fundraising, wishlists,purpose-driven support. Deborah Maclaren @LoveReading4Kids.bsky.social& Sana Siddiq primary teacher 💫 englishassociation.ac.uk/reigniting-r...
Reigniting Reading for Pleasure: Empowering Schools with LoveReading4Schools (18 November 2025, 16:45 - 17:30) | The English Association
We support the teaching, learning, and enjoyment of English at all levels of education, from early years to further and higher education and beyond.
englishassociation.ac.uk
November 17, 2025 at 12:31 PM
🥳📚📖Tomorrow ! Free! Online! Sign up! 18 November, 16:45 – 17:30 How schools can nourish a reading-for-pleasure culture with community fundraising, wishlists,purpose-driven support. Deborah Maclaren @LoveReading4Kids.bsky.social& Sana Siddiq primary teacher 💫 englishassociation.ac.uk/reigniting-r...
'The English Association, working alongside other cross-sector bodies in the subject community, welcomes the chance, opened by this watershed Review, to be involved in the further evolution of our national education system'. 👇
Announcing publication of our response to @beckyfrancis.bsky.social & team #curriculumandassessmentreview after consultation with our community & English related networks. Special thks to our Cross-Sector Educational policy lead @bobeaglestone.bsky.social
englishassociation.ac.uk/the-english-...
englishassociation.ac.uk/the-english-...
The English Association’s response to Building a World-Class Curriculum for All: the Curriculum and Assessment Review | The English Association
We support the teaching, learning, and enjoyment of English at all levels of education, from early years to further and higher education and beyond.
englishassociation.ac.uk
November 14, 2025 at 12:02 PM
'The English Association, working alongside other cross-sector bodies in the subject community, welcomes the chance, opened by this watershed Review, to be involved in the further evolution of our national education system'. 👇
Reposted by Jenny Richards
'The prospect of hundreds of job cuts at Lancaster University could damage the city's economy, students have warned.'
'Could'? Surely 'will'.
'Could'? Surely 'will'.
Fears Lancaster University job cuts would hit city's businesses
Lancaster University is seeking to cut 400 full-time posts as part of efforts to save £30m.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 9:10 AM
'The prospect of hundreds of job cuts at Lancaster University could damage the city's economy, students have warned.'
'Could'? Surely 'will'.
'Could'? Surely 'will'.
Reposted by Jenny Richards
'people who are multilingual are half as likely to show signs of accelerated biological ageing than are those who speak just one language.'
Good thing that schools, universities and governments are so actively promoting modern languages then, isn't it? 1/2
Good thing that schools, universities and governments are so actively promoting modern languages then, isn't it? 1/2
Want a younger brain? Learn another language
A vast study suggests that being multilingual can slow down cognitive ageing.
www.nature.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:58 AM
'people who are multilingual are half as likely to show signs of accelerated biological ageing than are those who speak just one language.'
Good thing that schools, universities and governments are so actively promoting modern languages then, isn't it? 1/2
Good thing that schools, universities and governments are so actively promoting modern languages then, isn't it? 1/2
Reposted by Jenny Richards
'Music and modern foreign languages degrees are among courses being suspended at the University of Nottingham, with the institution saying it “cannot rely on additional income” from the coming tuition fee rises.' 1/3
Nottingham suspends music, language and nursing courses
University says financial uncertainties continue as government’s proposed student levy will ‘wipe out any benefits’ from rising tuition fees
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:00 PM
'Music and modern foreign languages degrees are among courses being suspended at the University of Nottingham, with the institution saying it “cannot rely on additional income” from the coming tuition fee rises.' 1/3
Do we need humanities graduates to deliver the industrial strategy? Yes we do. www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/do-we-n...
Do we need humanities graduates to deliver the industrial strategy?
Policymakers should take a broad view of the value of degree courses when building our future workforce, says Charlotte Hallahan
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Do we need humanities graduates to deliver the industrial strategy? Yes we do. www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/do-we-n...
👇
We just published a response to the white paper on post-16 education and skills: englishassociation.ac.uk/the-english-...
Let us know what you think!
@bobeaglestone.bsky.social
Let us know what you think!
@bobeaglestone.bsky.social
englishassociation.ac.uk
October 30, 2025 at 5:52 PM
👇
Reposted by Jenny Richards
We just published a response to the white paper on post-16 education and skills: englishassociation.ac.uk/the-english-...
Let us know what you think!
@bobeaglestone.bsky.social
Let us know what you think!
@bobeaglestone.bsky.social
englishassociation.ac.uk
October 30, 2025 at 3:58 PM
We just published a response to the white paper on post-16 education and skills: englishassociation.ac.uk/the-english-...
Let us know what you think!
@bobeaglestone.bsky.social
Let us know what you think!
@bobeaglestone.bsky.social
Reposted by Jenny Richards
Fascinating discussion @j-amesmarriott.bsky.social re essay, ’gone viral’ - focus on #Reading #RfP #Literacy influence, decline, impact #intellectual #criticalthinking #rationality @englishassociation.bsky.social
@bobeaglestone.bsky.social
@jennyrichards.bsky.social
@teresacremin.bsky.social
@bobeaglestone.bsky.social
@jennyrichards.bsky.social
@teresacremin.bsky.social
I really enjoyed talking to Novara Media about why the post-literate society is an unfolding political catastrophe and why we need the mainstream media
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e4Y...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e4Y...
Modern Society Is Becoming Illiterate
YouTube video by Novara Media
www.youtube.com
October 26, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Fascinating discussion @j-amesmarriott.bsky.social re essay, ’gone viral’ - focus on #Reading #RfP #Literacy influence, decline, impact #intellectual #criticalthinking #rationality @englishassociation.bsky.social
@bobeaglestone.bsky.social
@jennyrichards.bsky.social
@teresacremin.bsky.social
@bobeaglestone.bsky.social
@jennyrichards.bsky.social
@teresacremin.bsky.social
Reposted by Jenny Richards
Free online webinar! Find out about #reading & #wellbeing research project @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social #LiteracyLab with @profsarahmcg.bsky.social & David Robinson #EnglishTeacher
englishassociation.ac.uk/reading-and-...
englishassociation.ac.uk/reading-and-...
Reading and wellbeing: Experiences across the lifespan (4 November 2025, 16:45 - 17:30) | The English Association
We support the teaching, learning, and enjoyment of English at all levels of education, from early years to further and higher education and beyond.
englishassociation.ac.uk
October 13, 2025 at 4:44 PM
👇
“Critical” skills shortages : ‘authors, writers, translators ‘ …
Authors, writers and translators are expected to be protected from a crackdown on UK working visas after being identified as occupations suffering from “critical” skills shortages 👇
October 13, 2025 at 11:15 AM
👇
What a great opportunity 👇
Pleased to announce @univeng.bsky.social small funding scheme now open to members. UE will fund up to 20 projects up to £250 each to support research/pedagogy/continuing professional development activities in Lit, Lang, Creative Writing. See details here: universityenglish.ac.uk/englishcreat...
University English Funding
universityenglish.ac.uk
October 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM
What a great opportunity 👇
Reposted by Jenny Richards
Pleased to announce @univeng.bsky.social small funding scheme now open to members. UE will fund up to 20 projects up to £250 each to support research/pedagogy/continuing professional development activities in Lit, Lang, Creative Writing. See details here: universityenglish.ac.uk/englishcreat...
University English Funding
universityenglish.ac.uk
September 30, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Pleased to announce @univeng.bsky.social small funding scheme now open to members. UE will fund up to 20 projects up to £250 each to support research/pedagogy/continuing professional development activities in Lit, Lang, Creative Writing. See details here: universityenglish.ac.uk/englishcreat...
Reposted by Jenny Richards
'The affected staff, in the schools of foreign languages, history, religion and music, have been warned the university cannot rule out compulsory redundancy.'
Almost 200 Cardiff University staff left in limbo as they face losing jobs
Cardiff University confirmed it cannot rule out compulsory redundancies as it also apologised to students for problems with a new timetabling system as the academic year begins
www.walesonline.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 7:22 AM
'The affected staff, in the schools of foreign languages, history, religion and music, have been warned the university cannot rule out compulsory redundancy.'