Stephen Dilley
@stephenjdilley.bsky.social
English teacher & HoD, bookworm, UKLA Book Awards team, Just Imagine reviewer, primary school governor and very amateur musician.
All views my own.
All views my own.
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2026 books read:
1. This, My Second Life by Patrick Charnley
Poignant and understated debut novel about a young man recovering from a brain injury living on his uncle's farm in Cornwall, with a touchingly innocent narrative voice and also featuring some Blyton-esque skulduggery!
1. This, My Second Life by Patrick Charnley
Poignant and understated debut novel about a young man recovering from a brain injury living on his uncle's farm in Cornwall, with a touchingly innocent narrative voice and also featuring some Blyton-esque skulduggery!
2026 books read:
1. This, My Second Life by Patrick Charnley
Poignant and understated debut novel about a young man recovering from a brain injury living on his uncle's farm in Cornwall, with a touchingly innocent narrative voice and also featuring some Blyton-esque skulduggery!
1. This, My Second Life by Patrick Charnley
Poignant and understated debut novel about a young man recovering from a brain injury living on his uncle's farm in Cornwall, with a touchingly innocent narrative voice and also featuring some Blyton-esque skulduggery!
January 1, 2026 at 5:00 PM
2026 books read:
1. This, My Second Life by Patrick Charnley
Poignant and understated debut novel about a young man recovering from a brain injury living on his uncle's farm in Cornwall, with a touchingly innocent narrative voice and also featuring some Blyton-esque skulduggery!
1. This, My Second Life by Patrick Charnley
Poignant and understated debut novel about a young man recovering from a brain injury living on his uncle's farm in Cornwall, with a touchingly innocent narrative voice and also featuring some Blyton-esque skulduggery!
Reposted by Stephen Dilley
Happy New Year! In 2025 I read 251 books - as ever, lots these were relatively quick reads. These were my favourite children's/YA books
@bconaghanauthor.bsky.social @philipreeve.bsky.social @nmgarrard.bsky.social @whusseyauthor.bsky.social @tiafisher.bsky.social
@bconaghanauthor.bsky.social @philipreeve.bsky.social @nmgarrard.bsky.social @whusseyauthor.bsky.social @tiafisher.bsky.social
January 1, 2026 at 8:31 AM
Happy New Year! In 2025 I read 251 books - as ever, lots these were relatively quick reads. These were my favourite children's/YA books
@bconaghanauthor.bsky.social @philipreeve.bsky.social @nmgarrard.bsky.social @whusseyauthor.bsky.social @tiafisher.bsky.social
@bconaghanauthor.bsky.social @philipreeve.bsky.social @nmgarrard.bsky.social @whusseyauthor.bsky.social @tiafisher.bsky.social
Happy New Year! In 2025 I read 251 books - as ever, lots these were relatively quick reads. These were my favourite children's/YA books
@bconaghanauthor.bsky.social @philipreeve.bsky.social @nmgarrard.bsky.social @whusseyauthor.bsky.social @tiafisher.bsky.social
@bconaghanauthor.bsky.social @philipreeve.bsky.social @nmgarrard.bsky.social @whusseyauthor.bsky.social @tiafisher.bsky.social
January 1, 2026 at 8:31 AM
Happy New Year! In 2025 I read 251 books - as ever, lots these were relatively quick reads. These were my favourite children's/YA books
@bconaghanauthor.bsky.social @philipreeve.bsky.social @nmgarrard.bsky.social @whusseyauthor.bsky.social @tiafisher.bsky.social
@bconaghanauthor.bsky.social @philipreeve.bsky.social @nmgarrard.bsky.social @whusseyauthor.bsky.social @tiafisher.bsky.social
Very proud of our Sixth Formers who organised a successful @amnesty.org Write for Rights event in school last week, with over 120 letters by students of all ages sent in support of Unecebo Mboteni, Guerreras por la Amazonia and Mother Nature Cambodia.
@amnestyuk.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/mrz3y8bc
@amnestyuk.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/mrz3y8bc
Amnesty International's Write for Rights Campaign
www.kendrick.reading.sch.uk
December 17, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Very proud of our Sixth Formers who organised a successful @amnesty.org Write for Rights event in school last week, with over 120 letters by students of all ages sent in support of Unecebo Mboteni, Guerreras por la Amazonia and Mother Nature Cambodia.
@amnestyuk.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/mrz3y8bc
@amnestyuk.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/mrz3y8bc
A beautiful rainbow over Salisbury Cathedral Close this afternoon!
November 23, 2025 at 9:58 PM
A beautiful rainbow over Salisbury Cathedral Close this afternoon!
This was terrific - every English teacher and everyone involved in education policy should listen!
Wednesday's fabulous Harold Rosen Lecture by Carol Atherton reminded us of the transformative power of authentic, dialogic teaching, says NATE chair Mick Connell. The lecture can be viewed after reading Mick's article: t.co/bP8n58Jntp
https://www.nate.org.uk/2025/11/20/carol-athertons-harold-rosen-lecture-advocates-for-the-transformative-power-of-authentic-dialogic-teaching/
t.co
November 22, 2025 at 9:21 PM
This was terrific - every English teacher and everyone involved in education policy should listen!
Reposted by Stephen Dilley
#UKLALucky13 Discover #WildJourney by A.M. Dassu, a gorgeous, linked collection of contemporary adventure stories, set across the world and inspired by the migratory flight of starlings. Stunningly illustrated in 🟧 & ⬛️ by Joe Lillington. RT to win a signed copy!
November 13, 2025 at 6:58 AM
#UKLALucky13 Discover #WildJourney by A.M. Dassu, a gorgeous, linked collection of contemporary adventure stories, set across the world and inspired by the migratory flight of starlings. Stunningly illustrated in 🟧 & ⬛️ by Joe Lillington. RT to win a signed copy!
Reposted by Stephen Dilley
If you know any English/Drama teachers who are looking for a job from January onwards then do share this advert with them - a great opportunity to work in a wonderful, happy school in Reading within two friendly and supportive departments!
www.kendrick.reading.sch.uk/page/?title=...
www.kendrick.reading.sch.uk/page/?title=...
English and Drama teacher
www.kendrick.reading.sch.uk
November 5, 2025 at 6:46 PM
If you know any English/Drama teachers who are looking for a job from January onwards then do share this advert with them - a great opportunity to work in a wonderful, happy school in Reading within two friendly and supportive departments!
www.kendrick.reading.sch.uk/page/?title=...
www.kendrick.reading.sch.uk/page/?title=...
If you know any English/Drama teachers who are looking for a job from January onwards then do share this advert with them - a great opportunity to work in a wonderful, happy school in Reading within two friendly and supportive departments!
www.kendrick.reading.sch.uk/page/?title=...
www.kendrick.reading.sch.uk/page/?title=...
English and Drama teacher
www.kendrick.reading.sch.uk
November 5, 2025 at 6:46 PM
If you know any English/Drama teachers who are looking for a job from January onwards then do share this advert with them - a great opportunity to work in a wonderful, happy school in Reading within two friendly and supportive departments!
www.kendrick.reading.sch.uk/page/?title=...
www.kendrick.reading.sch.uk/page/?title=...
Reposted by Stephen Dilley
Applications for NEU Sponsored Teacher Places at the 2026 UKLA International Conference are now open! Are you a member of UKLA and NEU? You could win a Sponsored Place at our 2026 Conference at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow! Visit our website to find out more and apply now!
buff.ly/kwmpVKj
buff.ly/kwmpVKj
October 13, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Applications for NEU Sponsored Teacher Places at the 2026 UKLA International Conference are now open! Are you a member of UKLA and NEU? You could win a Sponsored Place at our 2026 Conference at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow! Visit our website to find out more and apply now!
buff.ly/kwmpVKj
buff.ly/kwmpVKj
Reposted by Stephen Dilley
October's #lucky13th is Roar - an empowering novel-in-verse of resistance and finding your voice, inspired by Sampat Pal and the Pink Sari Gang, from the multi-award-winning author of Run, Rebel and The Crossing, Manjeet Mann. #uklamembers RT to win a copy!
#ThisIsHowIRoar
#ThisIsHowIRoar
October 13, 2025 at 7:01 AM
October's #lucky13th is Roar - an empowering novel-in-verse of resistance and finding your voice, inspired by Sampat Pal and the Pink Sari Gang, from the multi-award-winning author of Run, Rebel and The Crossing, Manjeet Mann. #uklamembers RT to win a copy!
#ThisIsHowIRoar
#ThisIsHowIRoar
Today is #NationalPoetryDay but also exactly one year since my lovely mum Dr Sally Dilley died, so here are two of my favourite poems about mothers, shared with great love and gratitude.
October 2, 2025 at 6:04 AM
Today is #NationalPoetryDay but also exactly one year since my lovely mum Dr Sally Dilley died, so here are two of my favourite poems about mothers, shared with great love and gratitude.
Lovely to be at the announcement ceremony and thrilled to have three in common with the judges from this exceptional longlist - well done to all the shortlisted authors and special hurrahs for Flashlight, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, and The Land in Winter!
September 23, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Lovely to be at the announcement ceremony and thrilled to have three in common with the judges from this exceptional longlist - well done to all the shortlisted authors and special hurrahs for Flashlight, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, and The Land in Winter!
Very excited to be en route to the @southbankcentre.bsky.social for the live Booker Prize shortlist announcement! My top 6 were:
Endling
Flashlight
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny
Seascraper
Love Forms
The Land in Winter
But lots of other strong contenders too!
Endling
Flashlight
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny
Seascraper
Love Forms
The Land in Winter
But lots of other strong contenders too!
📣 It's Booker Prize 2025 shortlist day!!!
A reminder to join our livestream from 7:30pm BST / 2:30pm EDT / 12am IST using this link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6VO...
A reminder to join our livestream from 7:30pm BST / 2:30pm EDT / 12am IST using this link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6VO...
The Booker Prize 2025 Shortlist Announcement: Live Stream
YouTube video by Southbank Centre
www.youtube.com
September 23, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Very excited to be en route to the @southbankcentre.bsky.social for the live Booker Prize shortlist announcement! My top 6 were:
Endling
Flashlight
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny
Seascraper
Love Forms
The Land in Winter
But lots of other strong contenders too!
Endling
Flashlight
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny
Seascraper
Love Forms
The Land in Winter
But lots of other strong contenders too!
Reposted by Stephen Dilley
So much fun researching a course. These for Bringing the Fiction Effect into Classrooms on 6/11 with me & @stephenjdilley.bsky.social . Cogsci suggests exploratory approaches best for English if we want learning to exploit how literature acts on the mind www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/e84d...
September 22, 2025 at 3:08 PM
So much fun researching a course. These for Bringing the Fiction Effect into Classrooms on 6/11 with me & @stephenjdilley.bsky.social . Cogsci suggests exploratory approaches best for English if we want learning to exploit how literature acts on the mind www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/e84d...
So incredibly proud of these incredible longlists (particularly the 11-14+ list which once again formed the bulk of the last few months' reading) and looking forward to working with our amazing teacher judges in Glasgow as they read and share these books with their classes!
Your 2026 UKLA Book Awards Longlists are here - the only national children’s book awards judged by teachers!
This year they feature books in translation, past winners, exciting debuts and a huge range of genres and themes.
Click here to see the full Longlists: ukla.org/ukla-book-aw...
This year they feature books in translation, past winners, exciting debuts and a huge range of genres and themes.
Click here to see the full Longlists: ukla.org/ukla-book-aw...
September 16, 2025 at 7:36 PM
So incredibly proud of these incredible longlists (particularly the 11-14+ list which once again formed the bulk of the last few months' reading) and looking forward to working with our amazing teacher judges in Glasgow as they read and share these books with their classes!
Reposted by Stephen Dilley
#UKLALucky13th Discover the must-read narrative verse YA novel, Not Going to Plan by previous UKLA winner, Tia Fisher. An often hilarious, yet profoundly moving and beautiful novel that captures teenagehood, its pressures and its complexities. Members, RP for a chance to win 1/3 copies
September 13, 2025 at 7:01 AM
#UKLALucky13th Discover the must-read narrative verse YA novel, Not Going to Plan by previous UKLA winner, Tia Fisher. An often hilarious, yet profoundly moving and beautiful novel that captures teenagehood, its pressures and its complexities. Members, RP for a chance to win 1/3 copies
Happy publication day @nmgarrard.bsky.social - ON THE EDGE is an absolutely terrific YA/adult crossover novel and a perfect summer read. I had the privilege of reviewing it a couple of months ago for @justimaginecentre.bsky.social here: justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...
August 14, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Happy publication day @nmgarrard.bsky.social - ON THE EDGE is an absolutely terrific YA/adult crossover novel and a perfect summer read. I had the privilege of reviewing it a couple of months ago for @justimaginecentre.bsky.social here: justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...
Reposted by Stephen Dilley
Written by UKLA Award winner, Nicola Garrard, On the Edge follows Rhys and his brothers, struggling to get by in an off-season tourist resort. When their home is threatened, Rhys resorts to drastic measures to protect his family. Members, repost to be in with a chance to win #lucky13th
August 13, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Written by UKLA Award winner, Nicola Garrard, On the Edge follows Rhys and his brothers, struggling to get by in an off-season tourist resort. When their home is threatened, Rhys resorts to drastic measures to protect his family. Members, repost to be in with a chance to win #lucky13th
Reposted by Stephen Dilley
I was blown away by this review. All
I set out to do when I wrote NOT GOING TO PLAn! Thank you, @stephenjdilley 😊 @hotkeybooks.bsky.social
I set out to do when I wrote NOT GOING TO PLAn! Thank you, @stephenjdilley 😊 @hotkeybooks.bsky.social
164. Not Going to Plan by @tiafisher.bsky.social
Another brave, moving and important YA verse novel, this time on the subject of teenage pregnancy. Like Crossing the Line, it has the power to change lives.
Read my review for @justimaginecentre.bsky.social here: justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...
Another brave, moving and important YA verse novel, this time on the subject of teenage pregnancy. Like Crossing the Line, it has the power to change lives.
Read my review for @justimaginecentre.bsky.social here: justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...
August 9, 2025 at 7:31 PM
I was blown away by this review. All
I set out to do when I wrote NOT GOING TO PLAn! Thank you, @stephenjdilley 😊 @hotkeybooks.bsky.social
I set out to do when I wrote NOT GOING TO PLAn! Thank you, @stephenjdilley 😊 @hotkeybooks.bsky.social
Absolutely delighted with this purchase yesterday - copies still available for a generously discounted price from the Pallant House Gallery bookshop in Chichester!
August 8, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Absolutely delighted with this purchase yesterday - copies still available for a generously discounted price from the Pallant House Gallery bookshop in Chichester!
Only predicted three this year - so am delighted for Seascraper, Love Forms and The Land in Winter. Have read five others (Universality, Audition, The South, The Rest of Our Lives and Flesh) and am looking forward to exploring the final five! @thebookerprizes.com
thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-l...
thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-l...
July 29, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Only predicted three this year - so am delighted for Seascraper, Love Forms and The Land in Winter. Have read five others (Universality, Audition, The South, The Rest of Our Lives and Flesh) and am looking forward to exploring the final five! @thebookerprizes.com
thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-l...
thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-l...
I'm looking forward to @thebookerprizes.com longlist announcement next week - here are my predictions, all books I have read and loved. Last year I managed a personal best of six correct predictions but I will be delighted to see any of these on the list!
July 24, 2025 at 6:50 PM
I'm looking forward to @thebookerprizes.com longlist announcement next week - here are my predictions, all books I have read and loved. Last year I managed a personal best of six correct predictions but I will be delighted to see any of these on the list!
Reposted by Stephen Dilley
A superb guest blog for @engmediacentre.bsky.social by Stephen Dilley, one of the 2024/5 EMC Associate Teachers. This is what A Level Lit can be - it’s what the subject discipline is all about, allowing authentic response to flourish, producing stunning writing! englishandmedia.co.uk/blog/developin…
July 15, 2025 at 10:21 AM
A superb guest blog for @engmediacentre.bsky.social by Stephen Dilley, one of the 2024/5 EMC Associate Teachers. This is what A Level Lit can be - it’s what the subject discipline is all about, allowing authentic response to flourish, producing stunning writing! englishandmedia.co.uk/blog/developin…