Playwright Alan Bennett: ‘I have a fear of books’
Now publishing his fourth collection of diaries, the 91-year-old legend of British letters talks about shyness, ‘feeling every minute’ of his age and the surprise of finding love
"When I sit down and write something, I feel I’ve got somewhere. I feel better after doing it. Also, Rupert says I’m intolerable if I’m not working so if I wasn’t writing it would drive him insane." - lovely interview with Alan Bennett by @emmavj.bsky.social:
11.03.2026 15:52
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‘As spring arrives, there are reasons to feel optimistic about the future of English, but at the same time, some longer-standing features of the subject remain worth reflecting on,’ says NATE Director, @thecockerill.bsky.social, in our March updates.
mailchi.mp/8c7214ddbb78...
11.03.2026 17:23
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Enjoy! Hope they all like ‘Opening Doors’ 😀🤣
11.03.2026 14:55
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Day 2 at London Book Fair with @publishingwales.bsky.social ✨
11.03.2026 14:00
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One thing that our secondary school librarian said to me a while ago is that she's seeing a sharp reduction in the number of children that have a library card, despite primary schools pushing reading & doing library visits.
11.03.2026 10:19
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picture of student's end-of-unit reflection
"My interpretation with King Lear over the course of the unit has changed, but in a way that has allowed me to grow overall."
I love seeing students getting used to the idea of an evolving interpretation being a good thing 😎
11.03.2026 01:33
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This - from our very own @bobeaglestone.bsky.social ⬇️
09.03.2026 15:16
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Thanks!
07.03.2026 07:48
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Overheard on a watercolour Saltmarsh
06.03.2026 17:20
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Another hub is opening led by @thinktalkleah.bsky.social via Inspire Partnership @ipatedu.bsky.social at Blackfield Primary, Southampton. It's open to all. Thanks Inspire!
Let me know if you would like a hub opened in your area.
searchingforexcellence.co.uk/wp-content/u...
04.03.2026 10:23
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Wow. Thanks Joshua.
Spine tingling ending and showing how varied your poetry can be. 😃
01.03.2026 19:21
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Look at that for perception! I love the use of the word 'globe' to be really specific.
27.02.2026 17:52
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Illustration by Vicky Cox from ‘Opening Doors to Quality Writing 6-9’
👇
27.02.2026 17:51
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Terrific 👇
@lauraspargo.bsky.social
27.02.2026 17:50
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My new book it out today! Very exciting! @bloomsburyed.bsky.social #BookSky #KidLitUK
26.02.2026 08:32
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One week now till publication on March 5th (World Book Day) and I’m delighted that this book has been chosen by @SchoolReading as their fiction book of the month. Huge thanks,& also to Scallywag Press & illustrator Bethan Welby. schoolreadinglist.co.uk/new-book-rel...
26.02.2026 09:54
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Scroll down for ‘Nymph and the Goblin’ pupils’ work. Thanks to Crown House
@mrstopcatteacher.bsky.social
@crownhousepub.bsky.social
www.crownhouse.co.uk/opening-door...
25.02.2026 15:44
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Thanks Myfanwy! I think you know @thinktalkleah.bsky.social
Please keep telling people! The independent and joyful writing that comes from the pupils lifts teachers’ spirits too!
@englishassociation.bsky.social
25.02.2026 16:17
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Oh it’s amazing. I’ve given lectures at university for ITTs and I always read this to them to show how you can elevate a poem from a read to a performance.
25.02.2026 15:29
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Also, never read this poem and am now excited to add it to my stash of great to teach poetry. What a fantastic use of voice!
25.02.2026 15:11
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I LOVE this- being ambitious but using art, oracy and drama to include the texts. More of this at KS3 please!
25.02.2026 15:10
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NYMPH! NYMPH! WHAT ARE YOUR BEADS? I flipping love it. We’re being ambitious as they’re Year 1 but it’s such a beautiful poem to act out with character voices and we’re going to create some water colour art of their own Saltmarsh. I wonder which characters will be overhead on theirs?
25.02.2026 14:45
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Scroll down for ‘Nymph and the Goblin’ pupils’ work. Thanks to Crown House
@mrstopcatteacher.bsky.social
@crownhousepub.bsky.social
www.crownhouse.co.uk/opening-door...
25.02.2026 15:44
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Well, we are here to help with the ‘Opening Doors’ series! Click on each book for examples of pupils’ work across the country. KS1,2,3
www.crownhouse.co.uk/bob-cox
25.02.2026 15:41
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Thanks @mrstopcatteacher.bsky.social
‘Overheard on a Saltmarsh’ continues to inspire!
@lauraspargo.bsky.social
@thinktalkleah.bsky.social
@juliesargent.bsky.social
25.02.2026 14:29
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Last call for our Reconnecting Teens and Texts Conference - March 6th- Milton Keynes. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/overcoming... It’ll be an inspiring day! We have just 5 tickets left! @kashleyenglish.bsky.social @openingdoors.bsky.social @rootedinreading.bsky.social
25.02.2026 13:24
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Thanks @juliesargent.bsky.social and @greenshawtrust.bsky.social for another ‘Opening Doors’ key-note.
@thinktalkleah.bsky.social
@lauraspargo.bsky.social
24.02.2026 19:32
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