In Part 2 of our English Department Reality Check, educator and consultant Martin Ferguson breaks down exactly what a cumulative, step-by-step curriculum looks like in practice. Rather than stressing over complete overhauls, Martin shares highly practical, workload-saving advice on how to audit your current Key Stage 3 schemes using short extracts instead of entire novels.

Later in the episode, acclaimed local author Sue Divin explains why integrating contemporary Northern Irish voices is the ultimate secret weapon for engaging reluctant readers and helping pupils "feel seen". She also shares actionable ways to secure funded author visits for your school so you can inspire your classes without stretching the department budget.

Grab a coffee, put the marking pen down, and let’s unpack this together.

What You Will Get From This Episode

• ☕ Stop Rewriting: Why you shouldn't throw out your existing schemes of work to start from scratch.

• 🔍 The 6 Lenses: How to do a rapid "curriculum audit light" on a single Year 8 or 9 unit without sacrificing your weekend.

• 📖 Reluctant Readers: The power of contemporary local literature to reflect modern themes and diverse identities in the classroom.

• 💸 Zero-Budget Inspiration: How to secure funded author visits through the Writers in Schools scheme.

Links & Resources Mentioned

• 🎧 Listen to Part 1: Catch up on the first half of our reality check here: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/82jtq

• 🗣️ Mark the Homework: Submit your departmental feedback to the TransformED Consultation here: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/qzjzd

• 🌟 Upskill Your Team: Martin offers brilliant English and Leadership CPD via Teach Lead. Book him here: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/14427z

• 📚 'Northern Lights' Reading Guide: A massive thank you to local author @suedivin for recommending this brilliant PDF from Children's Books Ireland, packed with great reads by Northern Irish artists and writers for ages 0-18. Read it here: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1bc3a1

English Subject Special.

Curriculum changes dropping onto your desk while you’re already trying to manage daily workload? Take a breath -we’ve got you covered. ☕🎧

In this episode of Pure Class, Sarah McCaughan sits down with local educator, consultant, and author Martin Ferguson (See One, Do One, Teach One) for an honest, practical English department reality check .

We’re cutting straight through the jargon of the proposed TransformED framework to focus on what actually matters to you, your department, and your pupils . No top-down lectures- just real staffroom talk on workload, local literary context, and protecting teacher wellbeing .

• 🥪 Staffroom Icebreaker: Would you rather split a Belfast bap with Seamus Heaney or explain a GCSE drama matrix to Brian Friel over Tayto crisps ?

• 🏫 Alternative Provision Realities: Lessons learned from small group provision and creating low-stress, transformative learning environments for SEN pupils .

• 📚 Protecting Local Literature: How to embed local voices (like Heaney and Carson) alongside the wider canon without drowning in extra planning .

• 🔍 Demystifying the 6 Lenses: What pattern, story, argument, metaphor, grammar, and context actually look like in a Year 9 classroom on a rainy Tuesday morning .

• 📝 Making Your Voice Heard: How to "mark the consultation homework", raise practical pinch points, and give meaningful feedback without sacrificing your weekends .

• ✨Supporting Autistic & SEN Writers: Realistic strategies and scaffolds for creative writing and exam prep .

🤝 Join the Conversation & Connect

We want to hear how you're feeling about the proposals!

• 💬 Drop a comment or DM us with your thoughts on the six lenses .

• 👥 Join the Community: Connect with fellow local educators in the NI Secondary Teacher Support Group on Facebook.

• 📸 Follow along on Instagram: @twinkl_ni_sec for episode clips, resource drops, and updates.

(P.S. Keep an eye out for Part 2 dropping next week, where Martin and Sarah dive into spiral curricula, adapting existing schemes, pacing yourself, and advice for Heads of Department!)

March is officially here, and at Twinkl, we are all about celebrating literacy and the absolute joy of reading! 📖✨ As secondary teachers, we know the real struggle of trying to get teenagers to swap endless scrolling for a book .

In Episode 7 of Pure Class, Sarah is joined by the incredible Jan Carson! Jan is a Ballymena-born, east Belfast-based author, who won the EU Prize for Literature for The Fire Starters and was shortlisted for the An Post Irish Novel of the Year for The Raptures. Now, she is officially serving as a National Year of Reading Ambassador for Northern Ireland. Jan sits down with us for a wonderfully honest and practical chat about how we can genuinely foster a lifelong love of literature in our schools and communities.

🎧 In this episode, we dive into:

• Reading for Joy 🧠: Why we need to ditch the pressure of massive page counts and just let students enjoy the practice of reading.

• The Power of Local Voices 🗣️: How providing local Northern Irish texts gives students a sense of worth and relevance by reflecting their own realities.

• Bridging Divides 🤝: Using storytelling and creative writing in shared education and integrated schools to foster empathy and help young people articulate their experiences.

• Sci-Fi & Fantasy 🚀: Why the current trend of teens writing genre fiction is actually a beautiful sign of them imagining a brighter future.

• Safe Spaces 🏛️: The absolutely vital role of school and local libraries for our young people.

Plus, we talk about Jan’s upcoming novel, Few and Far Between, and we kick things off with a very modern 'Would You Rather: School Dinner Edition'. (Spoiler alert: we are still reeling over the fact that the Education Authority canteen now serves Thursday "Wings Day" and Friday Spice Bags! 🍗🤣 )

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned in this Episode:

• Jan Carson’s Website 💻: Keep up with Jan’s work and check out Few and Far Between at https://www.jancarson.co.uk/

• 'Northern Lights' Reading Guide 🌟: A massive thank you to local author Sue Divin for recommending this brilliant PDF from Children's Books Ireland, packed with great reads by Northern Irish artists and writers for ages 0-18. Read it here: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1bc3a1

• Twinkl Library Lesson Resources 🎒: Ready-to-use resources to make the most of your school's library space! Download here: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1cq85u

#NorthernIreland #SecondarySchool #KS3English #GCSEEnglish #IrishAuthors #NILiterature #ReadingForPleasure #SchoolLibraries #JanCarson #TwinklNI #UKTeachers #TeacherPodcast #LiteracyMatters

It smells like sweets, looks like a highlighter, and it’s causing a massive headache in schools across NI. 🍬😩

Let’s be honest: keeping up with the vaping trend feels like a full-time job. You’re finding them in toilets, they’re hidden in pencil cases, and the old-school "just say no" lectures simply aren't cutting it with students. You’re worried about their health, but you’re also just trying to get through the day without another confiscation battle.

In this episode, we’re bringing in the reinforcements.

We welcome back Cormac from HIP Psychology, joined this time by Jenna and Carlos. They aren't just guessing at solutions; they’ve collaborated directly with Queen’s University Belfast to uncover the psychological truth about why young people are vaping—and how we can actually get through to them.

We discuss:

• 🤯 The Shocking Truth: Why one standard vape pod can equal 20 cigarettes in nicotine.

• 🕵️‍♂️ Hidden in Plain Sight: How to spot the devices disguised as everyday classroom items.

• 🗣️ Better Conversations: Moving away from punishment and towards psychology-backed chats that students will actually listen to.

Save time & get support now:Don't reinvent the wheel. If you need immediate support for your school, use the links below:

🧠 Book the Workshop: Bring the HIP team and their Queen's University research directly to your students.

👉 Book 'The Truth About Vaping' Workshop here

📚 Classroom Ready Resources: Download our 'Twinkl Beyond' pack to help you handle this topic in Form Class or Assembly tomorrow (no planning required!).

👉 Download the Vaping Support Pack here

Pure Class: A Day in the Life of a Northern Ireland Secondary SENCO Teacher 🏫

What does a SENCO do all day? ⏰ Join Sarah as she interviews Meabh McGreevy to pull back the curtain on the very dynamic life of a secondary school SENCO.

🔗 Resource Mentioned by Meabh:

Check out the Twinkl Cue Cards for scenarios here:https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/mdi05

Meet Our Guest: Meabh McGreevy

Meabh is a highly valued member of staff at Loreto College Coleraine 🏫. With 19 years of teaching experience under her belt, she has served as a Geography teacher and Head of Department, and has been practising as a SENCO for 11 years! Her dual expertise gives her a unique perspective on classroom needs and whole-school strategy. 🌍

In This Episode

We cover everything from the constant calls and emails 📞📧 to the emotional investment required for annual reviews and advocating for every child 💪.

Meabh gets candid about the challenges, including creating PLPs and the rise in SEB issues. She also shares essential advice on:

• Why the role of the Learning Support Assistant (LSA) is vital.

  
  

• The importance of SENCO collaborative groups for support.

  
  

• Using Twinkl resources for differentiation and quick-fix emotional support cards.

  
  

Plus, hear Meabh’s tips for teacher well-being (including kicking sand and shouting into the wind! 🌊) and her favourite local spot for a chippy tea (spoiler: it's Morton's! 🍟). A must-listen for all NI teachers, LSAs, and parents interested in Special Educational Needs.

🔗 Resource Mentioned by Meabh:

Check out the Twinkl Cue Cards for scenarios here:https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/mdi05

🎙️ Pure Class Podcast: Episode 4 🎉

Join us for a wee blether 🗣️ with Ulster Scots poet Anne McMaster 👩‍🌾✍️ for Leid Week! 📚

In this cosy fireside chat 🔥, we delve into the rich tapestry of Ulster Scots language and culture.

✨ Discover the beauty of Ulster Scots words and phrases 🗣️, explore its fascinating history and origins 📜, and hear Anne's inspiring journey into the world of poetry 🪶.

We'll also tackle the language vs. dialect debate 🤔 and discuss the importance of Ulster Scots in education 🏫.

Don't miss this insightful and entertaining episode! 🎧 #UlsterScots #LeidWeek #Poetry #Podcast #NorthernIreland #Culture

🎉 Half-term's the perfect time to put yer feet up and recharge the batteries! 🔋 This week on Pure Class Podcast, we're joined by Cormac Venney and Kevin Anderson from HIP Psychology 🧠. They're sharing their expertise on teacher well-being and how to avoid burnout 🔥. Listen in for top-notch advice on looking after yer physical 💪 and mental health 🧘‍♀️. #TeacherWellbeing #SelfCare #HIPPsychology #HalfTerm

🌟 Inspirin' Stories

from the Heart of Secondary Education in Norn Iron 🌟

Pull up a chair and get cosy for a good chat with two fantastic classroom assistants on this week's episode! ☕

✨ First up, we have Jamie McCook, working in an Autism Unit in a secondary school. He's pure passionate about supporting neurodiverse learners and creating a space where everyone feels welcome. 🌈

🌍 Then we'll hear from Yvonne Bolton, whose teaching journey has taken her from Malaysia to Birmingham and London, and finally to a secondary school classroom in Norn Iron. 🗺️ After a few years as a Teaching Assistant here, she's now back in Malaysia, but full of stories to share about her time in Northern Ireland!

Get ready for a right good dose of inspiration, practical tips, and a celebration of the legends who dedicate their lives to shaping young minds. 🎓 Don't miss it! 🎧

#Education #Inspiration #Teaching #Autism #Diversity #CulturalExchange #NornIron #SecondarySchool #TeachingAssistants

Episode 1: School to Scholars

Navigating the Digital Age & Opening Doors - A Chat with Dr. Declan McLaughlin ☕

Join Sarah for a relaxed and insightful chat with her friend and colleague, Dr. Declan McLaughlin from Queen's University Belfast. Think of it as a virtual staffroom catch-up, 🏫 where they'll delve into the ever-evolving world of education, sharing personal experiences and practical wisdom along the way. 🧠

In this episode, expect a blend of professional insights and friendly banter as they explore:

Whether you're a tech-savvy educator or still finding your footing in the digital world, this episode offers a refreshing blend of professional development and friendly conversation. 🤝

So grab a cuppa, settle in, and join Sarah and Declan for a chat that's as informative as it is enjoyable! 😊