Working together

Versions to print or adapt here
See also our list for students

Start here: an ICT primer for secondary English teachers

This is a short-list of sites for teachers looking for teaching resources and enrichment materials on the Internet. From Shakespeare to podcasting, Gutenberg to Gifted and Talented, we think you'll find it useful. All resources are free unless stated. There is separate list of sites that are particularly suitable for students to access at home or in school here.

The sites for teachers are divided into these categories, though there is obviously much overlap between them:

Help us improve these lists by sending us your comments and suggestions.

Professional support

  • NATE: National Association for the Teaching of English
  • The English Association
  • ITE: Website for those training teachers of English but of interest to all professionals
  • National Literacy Trust: Campaigns to improve literacy for all age ranges, news about student competitions and more

Curriculum support and advice

  • Birmingham Grid for Learning: Click on secondary and then KS3 Campaign for some lively stimuli such as Poetry Slam, KS3 Communicates and KS3 Imagines.
  • BBC Bitesize: Extensive and well-used site covering KS3 and GCSE. Aimed at revision; since the materials may appear, cut-and-pasted, in student essays, be aware of what's here.
  • Converse: Not comprehensive but interesting materials such as the Chaucer and Shakespeare units and interactive resources, eg Flash-based revision and a language change unit on place names. The seminar system attempts to engage students in real teaching/learning experiences online.
  • CLEO: Cumbria and Lancashire Education Online: Useful for inspiration rather than a comprehensive repository of materials. Good First World War and Norman Nicholson resources, for example.
  • Film Education: Resources on contemporary film and culture to make English studies feel relevant. Good set of media links too.
  • Hertfordshire Grid for Learning: Extensive materials for all Key Stages in PDF and/or Word format, mainly worksheet based with a few interactive resources.
  • London Gifted and Talented: The resources, particularly In Between the Lines, provide media-rich materials for students of all abilities to stimulate debate, reading and writing. Students can store their own work. Free to schools but teachers need to request access first.
  • Podcast Revision: Audio lessons on GCSE English topics. The site also explains how to make your own podcasts using free or cheap resources.
  • Poetry Archive: A wonderful collection of recordings, together with a good number of poetry lessons in the teachers' area - and links to other poetry sites.
  • Poetry Class: An interesting site which has useful links and materials, including some lesson resources for Years 7 and 8.
  • Project Gutenberg : A comprehensive source of out-of-copyright literature. Files are offered in a variety of formats; plain text is the most useful.
  • Royal Shakespeare Company: High quality resources, including clips of key speeches, actors explaining how they interpret lines and directors' views as well as students and teachers explaining why reading Shakespeare behind a desk is such a bad idea.
  • Shakespeare's Globe: Resources include a virtual tour of the theatre and, in the Education section, materials on over thirty of the plays. See also the Globe's Playing Shakespeare site for attractive and interactive Key Stage 3 resources.
  • Stagework: Resources on key productions at the National Theatre and selected regional partners: lesson materials, video clips of actors, workshop ideas and much more. Some materials have a wider application - for example on persuasive writing.
  • Teachit: Extensive libraries of teacher-produced resources covering all areas of secondary English, free in PDF format. Editable versions are available for a subscription; a further fee gives access to interactive whiteboard resources. The site has short videos for language study and a lively discussion forum.
  • Times Educational Supplement: Resources shared by teachers, from weblinks and one-page worksheets to more extensive materials, mostly adaptable. Easy to search and accompanied by users' comments.

Sites to enrich your teaching

These sites provide enrichment materials for teachers and students rather than teaching resources
  • BBC Voices: An enriching website for anyone interested in language. Maps showing the distribution of word-use across the UK and superb voice recordings.
  • British Library: Access to some of the unrivalled resources of one of the world's great libraries. See especially Turning the Pages and the Learning section for resources such as Texts in Context and Changing Language.

The complete lists ready to print or adapt

Ready to print versions:

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