Hello colleague
It’s good to be in touch with a few resources, opportunities and updates for May.
As ever, the focus is on the things that make the biggest difference to pupils’ thinking, without adding unnecessary workload.
The Teachers’ Collection INSET Day
Tuesday 1 September 2026
Story-Rich and Ready: Launching Your TTC Year
We are delighted to be hosting a dedicated INSET day for schools using The Teachers’ Collection.
I’ll be running the day with Abbie Ing, and the focus will be on helping colleagues move from reflection to action: making the most of the TTC toolkit, chosen texts and the wider reading culture in school.
Together, we’ll explore why a story-rich approach matters, what it looks like in practice, and how schools can make reading visible, valued and sustainable from the very start of the academic year.
The day will include time to:
- reflect on the TTC pillars
- identify priorities for the term ahead
- consider what a strong first week looks like
- make practical commitments to strengthen reading across classrooms, corridors and the wider school community
There will also be time for group discussion, peer support and practical planning.
We’ll end by looking ahead to the half-termly check-ins, so that schools can continue the cycle of reflecting, revisiting and refocusing throughout the year.
The INSET day is available for schools with a subscription to The Teachers’ Collection. More details here.
New book: KS3: The Ambitious Years
For years, we’ve said that KS3 matters. But if we’re honest, the system hasn’t always behaved that way.
In too many places, curriculum time has been squeezed, texts have been simplified, and expectations have been quietly lowered.
Then, in Year 10, we find ourselves reteaching what should already be secure.
This is the problem KS3 needs to solve.
My new book, KS3: The Ambitious Years, sets out a different approach, rooted in:
- depth before pace
- rich, demanding texts
- secure knowledge and vocabulary
- teaching that prioritises thinking over task completion
Because KS3 isn’t a warm-up.
It’s where the foundations for everything else are built.
If we get this right, KS4 becomes stronger, not harder.
Published in paperback on Tuesday 2nd June. Kindle pre-order is available here.
Reading aloud in lessons
Steve Willshaw and Simon Day have created a new course to support reading aloud in lessons.
This is such important work. Reading aloud is not an add-on or a soft activity. Done well, it helps pupils access demanding texts, build vocabulary, strengthen attention and encounter language they might not meet elsewhere. You can find out more here.
Eastern Education Show, Newmarket Racecourse
Thursday 18th June
I’m delighted to be speaking at the Eastern Education Show, alongside Hywel Roberts and others. It’s free to attend, and you can find out more and register here.
AI for schools
Neil Almond is producing a weekly AI update for teachers and leaders.
If you’re trying to keep up with the implications of AI for schools, without getting lost in the noise, this is worth a look. More here.
Finding My Voice webinar
Wednesday 3 June at 4pm
This webinar explores authentic oracy and inclusion by design.
At a time when many schools are thinking carefully about oracy, belonging and participation, this looks like a helpful contribution. You can sign up for free here.
Your voice matters: shaping the future of primary RE
The National Association of Teachers of Religious Education has launched its bi-annual primary survey.
This is an important opportunity for primary teachers to make sure the reality of RE in classrooms is heard.
The evidence from the survey is used directly with government and Ofsted to influence decisions on curriculum, training and support. Previous surveys have helped expose gaps in RE time and training, and have brought national attention to the subject.
With major decisions about the future of RE underway, primary teachers’ voices need to be part of the conversation.
The survey is anonymous, takes just a few minutes, and is open until Friday 31st July.
You can complete it here.
Spirited Arts 2026
NATRE’s annual cross-curricular art competition is underway, and entries are coming in.
This is a lovely opportunity for pupils to explore religion and worldviews through the arts, and to articulate their own thoughts, questions and ideas creatively.
Winning and highly commended artwork will be displayed in the online Spirited Arts Gallery. There are 40 prizes available, and all schools entering will receive certificates for pupils.
This year, entries have gone digital, which means there is no need to post physical artwork. This saves time, postage and carbon, and pupils can keep their original work.
Deadline: Friday 31 July 2026. You can submit entries here.
Big question this term: inclusion and the curriculum
This month’s big question is about inclusion and the curriculum.
How do we make sure that ambitious curriculum thinking reaches every pupil, without lowering the bar or narrowing the offer?
The following films on Myatt & Co explore this from different angles:
- The oracy shift — how to embed a strong oracy culture
- Using books across the curriculum — how ambitious texts and rich pedagogies can raise expectations for all pupils
- Muslim diversity and improving religious literacy in the RE classroom — how curriculum can promote understanding, challenge stereotypes and foster compassion
- Life chance school — how one school designs curriculum around equity, care and high expectations for vulnerable learners
Taken together, they show how schools can respond to national priorities while staying rooted in the pupils and communities they serve. Watch here with a subscription.
If you’re thinking about next steps
For secondary colleagues:
KS3: The Ambitious Years is a good place to start. You can access the self-evaluation toolkit here.
For primary colleagues:
The Teachers’ Collection offers story-rich curriculum resources rooted in ambitious texts and careful thinking. You can explore the research here.
Both are designed to do the same thing: raise the level of thinking while reducing unnecessary workload.
If this is already on your radar, keep going.
And if it isn’t, now is a good time to start.
If you know someone who would appreciate this update, please do forward it on.
Until next time
Mary