English CPD

A series of CPD articles and downloadable resources to support English teachers' professional development from experts and lead practitioners. Includes ideas and advice on teaching poetry, Shakespeare, vocabulary development and more. 

  • Enriching students' cultural capital

    Enriching students' cultural capital

    Published: 19/09/2019

    Emma Granton and Simon Briggs, Lead English Experts for AQA, share their ideas about how to enrich students' cultural capital in preparation for teaching literature texts at GCSE.

    By: Emma Granton and Simon Briggs
  • Introducing students to Shakespeare

    Introducing students to Shakespeare

    Published: 04/11/2013

    Francis Gilbert is Head of the MA in Creative Writing and Education and course leader for PGCE English at Goldsmiths. He shares his tips on how to introduce students to Shakespeare.

    By: Francis Gilbert
  • Improving engagement with pre-1900 texts

    Improving engagement with pre-1900 texts

    Published: 05/12/2022

    Pre-1900 literary texts can be challenging for KS3-4 English students. Here are some ideas and classroom resources to engage students and build important comprehension and GCSE exam skills. 

    By: Victoria Walker
  • Teaching poetry: approaches for training teachers

    Teaching poetry: approaches for training teachers

    Published: 17/08/2020

    Helena Thomas is a PGCE English course leader. She believes training teachers need to take their time when teaching poetry to students, and offers a range of strategies to it more meaningful.

    By: Helena Thomas
  • Mapping the heart of Shakespeare

    Mapping the heart of Shakespeare

    Published: 19/03/2018

    Ben Crystal is internationally renowned for performing, teaching and writing about Shakespeare. Here he introduces a tool you can use with your classes to reveal characters' feelings through Shakespeare's hidden stage directions: the 'heartbeat' of his works.

    By: Ben Crystal