Phil Johnston

My latest blog: How over-analysis is killing our pupils' love of literature See link below: passingthebaton682909401.wordpress.com/2026/02/09/is-… @LitdriveUK @Team_English1 @GauravDubay3

I am looking forward to speaking at #LitdriveCPD26! I’ll be discussing threshold discussions: conversations that draw on pupils’ everyday knowledge to access powerful knowledge from the curriculum. To book tickets, click here: eventbrite.co.uk/e/198337874020… @LitdriveUK

@LitdriveUK Thanks for the post!

📚 Interesting Read: "We’ve all been there: trying to push a class to engage with the subtleties of a writer’s craft only to be met with yawns and half-baked answers. " Phil Johnston's most recent blog on Death by Analysis Find the full bog here: buff.ly/a04WVpF

@GauravDubay3 @Xris32 @xAimieCrewex @HughesHaili @Team_English1 @greeborunner Looks class Gaurav! Could I have a copy once you get the chance?

Enjoyed creating this masterclass to be shared with our year 11 students after the Easter break. Do message me if you'd like a copy. Feel free to share @Xris32 @xAimieCrewex @HughesHaili @Team_English1 @greeborunner @pjohnston778

@LitdriveUK @GauravDubay3 Thank you! I’ve just made my submission. 👍

@pjohnston778 @GauravDubay3 Hi there, Phil! Submission form is here:

Phil's blogs are full of wisdom. English teachers and English leads, read this. Also, I hope @pjohnston778 will nominate himself to speak at the @LitdriveUK Conference.

Here’s my new blog reflecting on raising attainment, and how it can drift from impact to distraction once we lose sight of improving classroom practice. passingthebaton682909401.wordpress.com/2026/02/03/rai… #ukedchat #edutwitter #SLTchat

@GauravDubay3 @teacherfeature2 @Mr_Crome @KateJones_teach This looks really interesting Gaurav. Is there a way to access the recording/slides?

I'm looking forward to present on subject specific QA. Thinking helped by @pjohnston778 @teacherfeature2 @Mr_Crome @KateJones_teach Amy Edmonson, PB Santoyo, Peter Hughes and Peter Dewitt.

@GauravDubay3 @LitdriveUK @Team_English1 @Lit_liverbird @FunkyPedagogy @shadylady222 @zena_chadwick @greeborunner @Xris32 @HaleDonal @mrsmacteach33 Looks like a class talk! Thanks for sharing!

I have finally got around to sharing my slides from the @LitdriveUK conference. Please feel free to take a look @Team_English1 @Lit_liverbird @FunkyPedagogy @shadylady222 @zena_chadwick @greeborunner @Xris32 @HaleDonal @mrsmacteach33 dropbox.com/scl/fi/tx8poky…

@GauravDubay3 @nickharrison85 @Hugsutd01 @mr_englishteach @amy_smith117 @LauraLolder @FunkyPedagogy @msybibi @zssnas @Alexhughes3S @HughesHaili @HWimbushEnglish @MiriamHussain_ 3 strategies: 1. Some live-modelling in which I deliberately write such imprecise sentences before improving them. 2. Showing an example answer with a few of these vague sentences and then asking pupils to identify and then improve them. 3. Lots of why questions!

@nickharrison85 @Hugsutd01 @pjohnston778 @mr_englishteach @amy_smith117 @LauraLolder @FunkyPedagogy @msybibi @zssnas @Alexhughes3S @amy_smith117 @HughesHaili @HWimbushEnglish @MiriamHussain_

As part of the extraction groups I teach, a number of students continue to use phrases like '...makes the reader want to read on.' Other than modelling and sharing WAGOLLs, how do you combat this with students who have this phrase ingrained into their mind? @Team_English1

@GauravDubay3 @AQA @amy_smith117 @Alexhughes3S @DavidDidau I agree that it’s a tough Q for the reasons you suggest! We have had some success with the following structure: 1. Comparative thesis statement 2. Para 1: Focus only on Source A 3. Para 2: Focus only on Source B (but with comparative topic sentence) 4. Comparative conclusion

This is a really dumb question, but do we think the @AQA English Language Paper 2, Question 4, might be easier to compare the methods used to present perspectives if firstly both sources were shorter and secondly side by side? @amy_smith117 @Alexhughes3S @DavidDidau

Reflecting on 7 months of Headship 🧵 ‘You don’t know what it’s like until you’re sat in the chair’ A few people told me this leading up to starting my first headship and it’s so true. I read all the books, talked to experienced Heads and was completing the NPQH but nothing really prepares you for when you’re sat in the chair. Jim Smith’s recent post on LinkedIn got my thinking about the importance of holding the line and my first 6 months as a Headteacher. ‘Leadership isn’t just about setting a vision, it’s about standing firm when it matters most.’ Laying the foundations for a culture shift in a school is only the beginning. You can have a really clear vision but without the buy in it becomes nothing more than words on paper. I left school last night after another brilliant week and proud of what staff and students have achieved so far. So, what have I done with the team to move beyond the paper? /1

9/9 If you're running something similar or have ideas to boost engagement, drop a reply. Let’s ignite a love of literature in our pupils! 📚💡 #readingforpleasure

8/9 We’re also looking to expand our diversity of voices & perspectives. Got a great short story, essay, or speech recommendation? Let us know!

1/9 Getting teenagers to read at home is tough. At JAC, we're tackling this with The Big Read—a programme to engage them with quality literature every week. 📚✨ And guess what? It’s working - nearly all of Y10 are taking part! See link to resource in 2/9 👇