English Hubs in Action: Reading, Writing, Oracy,
and Vocabulary.

Unlock outstanding English teaching with English Hubs in Action—a brand-new, exclusive professional development programme created in collaboration with The National College and English Hubs across the UK. This series shares expert-led strategies for reading for pleasure, shared writing, oracy, vocabulary development, and more.

Sign up for a free membership today and access all four learning plans from English Hub schools.

Committed to Excellence

Funded by the Department for Education (DfE), English Hubs are expert schools that are dedicated to championing a love of reading
and improving the quality of phonics, early language development, and literacy teaching in primary schools. 

Happy primary school aged girl reaching for a book in a library

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Reading for Pleasure

Studies by the National Literacy Trust have shown that children who read for enjoyment are three times more likely to have above-average reading levels than those who do not. Furthermore, the OECD also found that reading for pleasure is a stronger predictor of educational attainment than a family's socio-economic background.

Happy teacher speaking to a happy primary aged boy who is doing school work in a classroom

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Shared Writing

Shared writing, where teachers actively demonstrate the writing process while involving pupils in decision-making, helps develop critical thinking, vocabulary acquisition, and a deeper understanding of text structure. The National Literacy Trust also emphasises that shared writing fosters a positive writing culture, boosting engagement and motivation, particularly among reluctant writers. 

Primary aged school students gathered around the teachers computer, smiling

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Developing Oracy Across the Curriculum

The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) reports that high-quality oracy education can accelerate progress by up to six months, particularly benefiting disadvantaged pupils. Studies from the Oracy APPG (All-Party Parliamentary Group) highlight that developing strong speaking and listening skills improves critical thinking, problem-solving, and overall attainment across subjects, including literacy, maths, and science.

Primary aged students sat on the floor, gathered around a teacher, in a classroom

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Vocabulary Development

The Oxford Language Report warns of a "word gap", where many children enter school with limited vocabulary, impacting their ability to access the curriculum and express themselves effectively. By building a strong vocabulary early on, children are better equipped to access learning, express creativity, and succeed in future education and life. 

Explore today

We bring you first-hand insights from headteachers, subject leaders, and pupils who have seen real success in transforming English learning in their schools. Through this series, you will:
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    Hear from experienced educators about the challenges they’ve faced and the strategies they’ve used to drive improvement

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    See classroom pedagogy in action, with real examples of effective English teaching

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    Access practical, ready-to-use guidance and advice from leading English Hub schools

Happy female teacher sat infront of a laptop, looking into the camera with her arms crossed
Primary aged students sat on the classroom floor, listening to the teacher read a book
Happy male primary school teacher stood in a classroom
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Hear from experienced educators about the challenges they’ve faced and the strategies they’ve used to drive improvement

Happy female teacher sat infront of a laptop, looking into the camera with her arms crossed
Team icon-2

See classroom pedagogy in action, with real examples of effective English teaching

Primary aged students sat on the classroom floor, listening to the teacher read a book
Policy icon-3

Access practical, ready-to-use guidance and advice from leading English Hub schools

Happy male primary school teacher stood in a classroom

Access the world's largest library of CPD for educators.

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Group 1719
There’s such a broad array of training opportunities, that we don’t need to go hunting for training externally. The content is really current and the feedback I get from staff is that it offers value to them. The whole package just works on every level for us.
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Fir Tree College
Fir Tree College

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Diverse Academies
Diverse Academies Trust

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Phoenix Primary & Secondary School

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Herts & Essex Multi-Academy Trust
Herts & Essex Multi-Academy Trust

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