UCU Strike Poems 1 – What Work Is, by Philip Levine

What Work Is We stand in the rain in a long line waiting at Ford Highland Park. For work. You … More

End of January notebook

Blind panic when the anthology I am in arrives. The hunt, ever more despairing, for my poem, certain that they … More

This is The Power and Potential of Poetry , the talk I gave today at the Somerset Literacy Network annual conference. … More

Every September is the same. I pack a bag for work, set off into the still warm sunshine, and wonder … More

I was on the phone to a writer friend the other week. In itself this is a rare occurrence: normally … More

I found myself in the position of giving feedback to some writers recently. The writers were teachers who had signed … More

On Not Being Anthony Wilson I haven’t always been Anthony Wilson. For a long time I wasn’t even Anthony. … More

I was having a coffee with a new writer friend the other day. Not having known each other for very … More

Smith Objectionable, mercurial, fierce, wise, bandaged, solitary and irresistible, Phil Smith and I were not close. Only in our … More

One of the more interesting paradoxes of analysing the interviews of professional writers during the Teachers as Writers (TaW) … More

You can download the PowerPoint of my talk at Mount Kelly College, on 18 April 2017, here: Creativity_a provocation_Mount Kelly College_April … More

Dean Paul Granny § ‘What students in classrooms say is an exceptionally precious learning resource. Every time a teacher receives … More

I have been thinking a lot recently about Alan Booth, my English teacher from the ages of 11 to 13. … More

I have to be honest and say that, in the light of yesterday’s US Election result, I am tempted to … More

I wasn’t always lazy. As I have written before, I think it became a safety valve for me around the … More

Last week saw an important milestone for Teachers as Writers. The CPD/feedback day gave everyone involved in the project – … More

And though I only met you once, your influence on me is massive, or should that be was I don’t … More

‘Did you hear?’ says the book. ‘Ted Hughes’s brother has died.’ ‘I did see that, yes,’ I say. ’95, though. … More