Anthony Cockerill
@thecockerill.bsky.social
Blogs and writes about writing, the written word and education. Director of the National Association for the Teaching of English.
www.anthonycockerill.com
www.anthonycockerill.com
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
💡Bob Cox (@openingdoors.bsky.social) and I both sharing in our enjoyment of reading the latest issue of @natefeed.bsky.social 'Teaching English' magazine!
💭 Great minds thinking alike!
@thecockerill.bsky.social @suepinnick.bsky.social
#EnglishTeachers #InitialTeacherEducation #EduSky
💭 Great minds thinking alike!
@thecockerill.bsky.social @suepinnick.bsky.social
#EnglishTeachers #InitialTeacherEducation #EduSky
December 1, 2025 at 1:31 PM
💡Bob Cox (@openingdoors.bsky.social) and I both sharing in our enjoyment of reading the latest issue of @natefeed.bsky.social 'Teaching English' magazine!
💭 Great minds thinking alike!
@thecockerill.bsky.social @suepinnick.bsky.social
#EnglishTeachers #InitialTeacherEducation #EduSky
💭 Great minds thinking alike!
@thecockerill.bsky.social @suepinnick.bsky.social
#EnglishTeachers #InitialTeacherEducation #EduSky
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
Nice examples & modelling of how to engage students with Eng Lang P1 Qu 4 from @thecockerill.bsky.social
Analysing film openings of King's IT is also a good way to discuss structural techniques, then compare back to the text.
Analysing film openings of King's IT is also a good way to discuss structural techniques, then compare back to the text.
AQA’s GCSE English Language P1 Q4 has been retooled to help candidates respond. It offers some great opportunities for students to productively engage with the idea of thinking and writing analytically, as NATE director @thecockerill.bsky.social
rediscovers: nate.org.uk/2025/10/03/a... #NATE
rediscovers: nate.org.uk/2025/10/03/a... #NATE
Two very creepy but highly effective extracts for teaching AQA's GCSE English Language, Paper 1, Question 4 - National Association for the Teaching of English
This question, retooled to help students engage and respond, offers some really great opportunities for students to productively engage with the idea of thinking and writing analytically Teaching AQA’...
nate.org.uk
October 3, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Nice examples & modelling of how to engage students with Eng Lang P1 Qu 4 from @thecockerill.bsky.social
Analysing film openings of King's IT is also a good way to discuss structural techniques, then compare back to the text.
Analysing film openings of King's IT is also a good way to discuss structural techniques, then compare back to the text.
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
What the National Curriculum Review needs to get right about grammar to avoid the repeating the shortcomings of the previous reforms.
My blog for NATE 👇🏻
#English #EnglishGrammar #Education
My blog for NATE 👇🏻
#English #EnglishGrammar #Education
Grammar teaching may change in upcoming education reforms — but @lpearcelearning.bsky.social warns: unless curriculum, assessment & incentives align, we risk repeating a decade of mistakes that kept teachers from seeing grammar’s true value in daily practice. #NATE
www.nate.org.uk/2025/09/10/w...
www.nate.org.uk/2025/09/10/w...
What’s next for grammar in the curriculum? - National Association for the Teaching of English
Grammar has been identified as a likely candidate for change in the upcoming education reforms. Luke Pearce cautions that without taking into consideration the interplay between curriculum, assessment...
www.nate.org.uk
September 10, 2025 at 6:16 PM
What the National Curriculum Review needs to get right about grammar to avoid the repeating the shortcomings of the previous reforms.
My blog for NATE 👇🏻
#English #EnglishGrammar #Education
My blog for NATE 👇🏻
#English #EnglishGrammar #Education
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
See home page for two new hubs welcoming bookings, one in Yorkshire and one in Buckinghamshire. Contact me for support for excellence for all:principles and strategies
www.searchingforexcellence.co.uk
www.searchingforexcellence.co.uk
Searching for Excellence
Award-winning author of the 'Opening Doors' series and educational consultant, Bob Cox.
www.searchingforexcellence.co.uk
September 10, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
Why aren’t more Queer texts taught in English classrooms? 🌈 Matt Ingram reflects on representation & introduces NATE’s new LGBTQ+ Working Group—supporting teachers, leaders, exam boards & publishers to diversify curricula with Queer voices. www.nate.org.uk/2025/09/03/w... #NATE
Why don’t we teach more Queer texts in the English classroom? - National Association for the Teaching of English
I want to start with a story. It’s 2007, or 2008. I’m sat in my favourite classroom: the Drama Studio. My drama teacher, a man I near idolise for his...
www.nate.org.uk
September 10, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Why aren’t more Queer texts taught in English classrooms? 🌈 Matt Ingram reflects on representation & introduces NATE’s new LGBTQ+ Working Group—supporting teachers, leaders, exam boards & publishers to diversify curricula with Queer voices. www.nate.org.uk/2025/09/03/w... #NATE
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
Honoured to write this.
James Durran reflects on his friendship with the late Jim Stewart, who has died, aged 67, after a rapid progression of Parkinson’s. Jim was a devoted English teacher and a loyal friend of NATE.
www.nate.org.uk/2025/07/29/j...
www.nate.org.uk/2025/07/29/j...
Jim Stewart: a personal recollection - National Association for the Teaching of English
James Durran reflects on his friendship with the late Jim Stewart My close friend Jim Stewart, who has died, aged 67, after a rapid progression of Parkinson’s, was a devoted...
www.nate.org.uk
July 29, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Honoured to write this.
Great to be representing @NATEfeed.bsky.social at English: Shared Futures today. I’ve led a workshop in York’s Guildhall on teaching creative writing through moving image. Looking forward to @barbarableiman.bsky.social with Andrew McCallum, Kate Bomford and Thomas Karshan this afternoon.
July 5, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Great to be representing @NATEfeed.bsky.social at English: Shared Futures today. I’ve led a workshop in York’s Guildhall on teaching creative writing through moving image. Looking forward to @barbarableiman.bsky.social with Andrew McCallum, Kate Bomford and Thomas Karshan this afternoon.
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
By borrowing structural and visual techniques from film, students can plan and draft prose with greater clarity, control, and creativity — making their writing more structured, immersive, and compelling, says Anthony Cockerill. www.nate.org.uk/2025/05/23/h... #NATE #illumiNATE
How can the process of storyboarding film help our students write compelling prose? - National Association for the Teaching of English
By borrowing structural and visual techniques from film, students can plan and draft prose with greater clarity, control, and creativity — making their writing more structured, immersive, and compelli...
www.nate.org.uk
May 23, 2025 at 9:52 AM
By borrowing structural and visual techniques from film, students can plan and draft prose with greater clarity, control, and creativity — making their writing more structured, immersive, and compelling, says Anthony Cockerill. www.nate.org.uk/2025/05/23/h... #NATE #illumiNATE
It's been a privilege to publish some fabulous articles for our illumiNATE series in the last few weeks. Here's an awesome contribution from Jessica De Waal: Ted Hughes, poetry, creative writing. Can't recommend it highly enough.
What does it mean to ‘capture’ an animal in poetry? Using the work of Ted Hughes, Dr. Jessica De Waal explores the ways in which students can be empowered to create their own vivid descriptions that powerfully evoke the natural world #NATE #illumiNATE
www.nate.org.uk/2025/05/02/c...
www.nate.org.uk/2025/05/02/c...
Capturing animals in poetry: a teacher’s guide - National Association for the Teaching of English
What does it mean to ‘capture’ an animal in poetry? By using the work of Ted Hughes, Dr. Jessica De Waal explores the ways in which students can be empowered...
www.nate.org.uk
May 2, 2025 at 5:35 PM
It's been a privilege to publish some fabulous articles for our illumiNATE series in the last few weeks. Here's an awesome contribution from Jessica De Waal: Ted Hughes, poetry, creative writing. Can't recommend it highly enough.
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
Coming this Friday in illumiNATE: what does it mean to ‘capture’ an animal in poetry? By using the work of Ted Hughes, Dr. Jessica De Waal explores the ways students can be empowered to create their own vivid descriptions that powerfully evoke the natural world. #illumiNATE #NATE
April 28, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Coming this Friday in illumiNATE: what does it mean to ‘capture’ an animal in poetry? By using the work of Ted Hughes, Dr. Jessica De Waal explores the ways students can be empowered to create their own vivid descriptions that powerfully evoke the natural world. #illumiNATE #NATE
With all this talk of how to structure curriculum for KS3 English, it’s a good time to reshare: ‘Why a thematic curriculum is brilliant for Key Stage 3 English’. anthonycockerill.com/2019/05/24/t...
Why a thematic curriculum is brilliant for Key Stage 3 English (and why it’s also great for your GCSE students too)
A thematic curriculum allows us to learn about those important touchstones of literary study alongside cultural totems of our time. Why a thematic curriculum? Spoiler alert. In the excellent film A…
anthonycockerill.com
April 7, 2025 at 8:15 AM
With all this talk of how to structure curriculum for KS3 English, it’s a good time to reshare: ‘Why a thematic curriculum is brilliant for Key Stage 3 English’. anthonycockerill.com/2019/05/24/t...
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
To celebrate @worldbookday.bsky.social at NATE, members of our team want to share what they’re reading. Sue, our Vice-Chair, says: ‘I'm reading Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano, who captures the voice of a traumatised 12 year old boy very convincingly.’ #worldbookday
March 5, 2025 at 7:47 AM
To celebrate @worldbookday.bsky.social at NATE, members of our team want to share what they’re reading. Sue, our Vice-Chair, says: ‘I'm reading Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano, who captures the voice of a traumatised 12 year old boy very convincingly.’ #worldbookday
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
To celebrate @worldbookdayuk.bsky.social at NATE, members of our team want to share what they’re reading. Anthony, NATE’s Director, says: ‘I’ve been reading Charles Portis’s novel True Grit: a fabulous story told in the idioms of the American South - evocative and unforgettable.' #WorldBookDay
March 5, 2025 at 7:46 AM
To celebrate @worldbookdayuk.bsky.social at NATE, members of our team want to share what they’re reading. Anthony, NATE’s Director, says: ‘I’ve been reading Charles Portis’s novel True Grit: a fabulous story told in the idioms of the American South - evocative and unforgettable.' #WorldBookDay
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
Through role-play and hands-on activities at Ripon’s Workhouse Museum, Sarah Geary’s Year Eleven students gained a vivid understanding of Victorian poverty and the harsh realities of life for the destitute.👇#NATE #illumiNATE #teamenglish
illumiNATE, Issue 101
When Year Eleven students read: ‘Are there no Prisons?’ said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. ’Are there no workhouses?’ in A Christmas Carol, their GCSE text, they…
buff.ly
February 28, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Through role-play and hands-on activities at Ripon’s Workhouse Museum, Sarah Geary’s Year Eleven students gained a vivid understanding of Victorian poverty and the harsh realities of life for the destitute.👇#NATE #illumiNATE #teamenglish
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
Great to hear @thecockerill.bsky.social talking to Chris Jordan about curriculum, themes and concepts — and thanks both for the lovely words about the NATE community and membership! #NATE open.spotify.com/episode/4HFB...
Anthony Cockerill - Director of the National Association for the Teaching of English (NATE) - York
The Leading, Language and Literature Podcast · Episode
open.spotify.com
February 6, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Great to hear @thecockerill.bsky.social talking to Chris Jordan about curriculum, themes and concepts — and thanks both for the lovely words about the NATE community and membership! #NATE open.spotify.com/episode/4HFB...
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
Last week Beyond the Secret Garden by @darrenchetty.bsky.social + @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social got the launch it deserved at a wonderful event. A must read for educators everywhere! www.englishandmedia.co.uk/publications...
February 4, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Last week Beyond the Secret Garden by @darrenchetty.bsky.social + @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social got the launch it deserved at a wonderful event. A must read for educators everywhere! www.englishandmedia.co.uk/publications...
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
In the spring issue of Teaching English, published early in March, Alison Binney and Lizzi Rawlinson-Mills explore the self-perceptions of trainee teachers of their identity as writers. #NATE #teamenglish
February 5, 2025 at 9:00 AM
In the spring issue of Teaching English, published early in March, Alison Binney and Lizzi Rawlinson-Mills explore the self-perceptions of trainee teachers of their identity as writers. #NATE #teamenglish
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
Using a historical story with a big focus on world-building has massively improved my teaching of Francis Drake this year. Just love the details such as being called 'El Draque', the connections with Christopher Hind, the little detail of Burghley refusing his 'gold bars' - all reveals so much!
February 4, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Using a historical story with a big focus on world-building has massively improved my teaching of Francis Drake this year. Just love the details such as being called 'El Draque', the connections with Christopher Hind, the little detail of Burghley refusing his 'gold bars' - all reveals so much!
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
In this Friday's illumiNATE, Faye Griffiths asks if copywork can help build our students' writing stamina. #NATE #teamenglish
February 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM
In this Friday's illumiNATE, Faye Griffiths asks if copywork can help build our students' writing stamina. #NATE #teamenglish
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
In the spring issue of Teaching English, to be published early in March, Arthur Sawbridge will ask if we can ease students through the transition from KS4 to KS5 and to university level study by making questions of literary theory more engaging. #NATE #teamenglish
February 4, 2025 at 12:21 PM
In the spring issue of Teaching English, to be published early in March, Arthur Sawbridge will ask if we can ease students through the transition from KS4 to KS5 and to university level study by making questions of literary theory more engaging. #NATE #teamenglish
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
Our email newsletter, illumiNATE, is all about inspiration and ideas we can put into practice in the classroom. We'd love to hear from you. If you'd like to share a short article with NATE members and subscribers, drop Anthony a message at director@nate.org.uk. #NATE #teamenglish
February 4, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Our email newsletter, illumiNATE, is all about inspiration and ideas we can put into practice in the classroom. We'd love to hear from you. If you'd like to share a short article with NATE members and subscribers, drop Anthony a message at director@nate.org.uk. #NATE #teamenglish
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
illumiNATE, Issue 99: Anne Enright's story 'The Weight' can be a great stimulus for discussion of narrative possibilities and technique: mailchi.mp/nate.org.uk/...
illumiNATE, Issue 99
mailchi.mp
January 29, 2025 at 5:20 PM
illumiNATE, Issue 99: Anne Enright's story 'The Weight' can be a great stimulus for discussion of narrative possibilities and technique: mailchi.mp/nate.org.uk/...
It was great to revisit my blog post 'Why a thematic curriculum is brilliant for Key Stage 3 English' with Chris Jordan this morning, for his fabulous podcast. anthonycockerill.com/2019/05/24/t... #NATE #teamenglish
Why a thematic curriculum is brilliant for Key Stage 3 English (and why it’s also great for your GCSE students too)
A thematic curriculum allows us to learn about those important touchstones of literary study alongside cultural totems of our time. Why a thematic curriculum? Spoiler alert. In the excellent film A…
anthonycockerill.com
January 23, 2025 at 4:02 PM
It was great to revisit my blog post 'Why a thematic curriculum is brilliant for Key Stage 3 English' with Chris Jordan this morning, for his fabulous podcast. anthonycockerill.com/2019/05/24/t... #NATE #teamenglish
Reposted by Anthony Cockerill
Fantastic blogpost, saying so much about #English_teaching, from @CarolAtherton8. passing-it-on.com/2025/01/12/s...
Seamus and Year Eight and me
In Reading Lessons, I write about the shadow colleagues who share my classroom and help with my lessons: the novelists and poets and playwrights without whom I couldn’t do my job. This week, with Y…
passing-it-on.com
January 12, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Fantastic blogpost, saying so much about #English_teaching, from @CarolAtherton8. passing-it-on.com/2025/01/12/s...