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. 

  • Translating Shakespeare: how to familiarise students with his language

    Translating Shakespeare: how to familiarise students with his language

    Published: 10/02/2014

    Shakespeare's language often presents a barrier to students' learning. In this suggested approach, author and PGCE course leader Francis Gilbert outlines how modern translations can provide a useful way in.

    By: Francis Gilbert
  • Shakespeare as part of our cultural capital

    Shakespeare as part of our cultural capital

    Published: 13/01/2014

    Getting students to 'own' the value of Shakespeare as part of their cultural capital is not necessarily straightforward. Francis Gilbert, journalist and PGCE and MA course leader, suggests how you can familiarise your students with Shakespeare's language.

    By: Francis Gilbert
  • 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
  • Why understanding prefixes and suffixes can help with vocabulary development

    Why understanding prefixes and suffixes can help with vocabulary development

    Published: 06/02/2017

    Speech and language experts Emela Milne and Victoria Honeybourne share their advice for empowering students with knowledge of prefixes and suffixes as part of their vocabulary learning.

    By: Emela Milne and Victoria Honeybourne
  • 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