Collins Schools

Thoughts on Writing (and your questions answered!) – Derek Landy

Thoughts on Writing (and your questions answered!) – Derek Landy

I’ve been thinking about creativity a lot lately.

5 min

Women’s Rights – Primary English

Women’s Rights – Primary English

This month sees the publication of the Collins Big Cat Progress book on Votes for Women which was a pivotal issue in the emancipation of women.

5 min

Secondary English – A lot about a little

Secondary English – A lot about a little

Writing a lot about a little has been the mantra of exam boards for the last few years but I still find that my students struggle with it. Being able to zoom in on details in texts is a skill...

3 min

‘Daredevil vs the Hulk? It’s just comma-sense!’

‘Daredevil vs the Hulk? It’s just comma-sense!’

“You think using full stops is hard!?” I asked one group of GCSE re-sit students the other day as they grappled with just two simple tips on what to look for when locating the end of a sentence – those being,...

5 min

Secondary English – Imaginative Writing

Secondary English – Imaginative Writing

We all know that the burden of marking and assessment is particularly heavy if you’re an English teacher. And yet one of the things that keeps us going can be those little moments of frisson when we read something that...

2 min

Primary – Literacy Activities for Dickens

Primary – Literacy Activities for Dickens

Charles Dickens early career was as a journalist and like journalists throughout history, he had to work to a deadline. At a certain time of day the newspaper had to be printed, no matter what or it wouldn’t be out...

6 min

Secondary English – Post-it Power and Pupil Voice!

Secondary English – Post-it Power and Pupil Voice!

I love a Post It. I’ll admit it. I also get to do the stationery order (oh the joys!) so I order the boring yellow ones but also all the hearts, thumbs up, cars and smiley faces. These are hoarded...

3 min

Secondary English – Market Place Persuasion

Secondary English – Market Place Persuasion

“Roll up, Roll up!”  Teaching persuasive writing through role play

4 min

KS3 English – Creative Writing using drama

KS3 English – Creative Writing using drama

My ‘be a better teacher’ resolution last September was finding a way of encouraging my Year 9 class to be more independent with their creative writing.

2 min