Geoff Barton
@RealGeoffBarton
Recovering English teacher, head, and union baron. Chiefly: books, food, Shakespeare, oracy … and gratuitous pics of Suffolk skies with border terrier Molly B.
Da-dah! Yes, despite popular demand, here's the #BartonBookshelf - my five fiction and five non-fiction recommendations for your holiday ... Have a great break when it finally arrives.
Wonderful …
One of my absolute favourite TV Shows as a kid and absolutely one of my favourites kid’s TV Shows as an adult. Thunderbird 1’s Launch Sequence THUNDERBIRDS (1964-66)
Apropos nothing: this was our Wednesday (so far): lunch at The Brewers, Rattlesden; a walk; an imperious dog. #bartonbites
The campaign for #oracy education continues … theguardian.com/education/2025…
A fascinating evening last night watching one of Shakespeare’s strangest and most magical plays - ‘The Winter’s Tale’. Delighted to take as my guest @ASCL_UK’s @Tom_Middlehurst …
In celebration of mix tapes … theguardian.com/music/2025/jul…
The case for reform of GCSE English continues: @pearson’s ‘Let’s Talk English’ report … pearson.com/en-gb/schools/…
The view from here: our walk (and, er, light lunch) in Felixstowe today (Phil, Helen and Molly B) beneath Suffolk’s burgeoning clouds which then morphed into glorious sunshine …
What an afternoon: the old @ASCL_UK band re-formed for a joyful lunch @AldeLighthouse and book-browsing @AldeBooks. Molly B looked on, quietly bemused. Huge thanks to @Evelynforde1, @MannyBotwe and @JohnCam72037614 for your ongoing friendship, and to Sam & the Lighthouse team.
Your #GeoffyB summer megamix mixcloud.com/GeoffyB/gb-sum…
The view from here: have had an extraordinary day at @TheRSC’s ‘Festival of Ideas’ for digital innovators from across the globe. Especially loved learning about the design process for #Titus from designer Jo Scotcher
In the @oracycommission final report, we argued that one reason to make #oracy ‘the fourth R’ is to prepare young people as informed future voting citizens, possibly at age 16. So … theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
Tough to watch - raw, frustrated, poignant and so articulate in the face of this cruel disease …
“There's no remission for Alzheimer’s” Martin Frizell, married to former GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips, speaks to @vicderbyshire about how he’d “wished” his wife had cancer rather than Alzheimer’s as “at least then she’d have had some hope”. #Newsnight
A privilege and great fun to work with students from @AnglianLearning today at their Visions & Voices conference. We explored why the arts matter so much, then worked on presentation skills. Great to see Principal @HelenaMarsh81 again. And thanks to Helen Frost for inviting me.
Understated tweet: without wanting to get anyone over-excited, on Friday I'll reveal this summer's #BartonBookshelf - my ten fiction / non-fiction reading recommendations - plus the #DJGeoffyB soundtrack for summer. Hang in there.
Quite a day: honoured to receive the @LancasterUni Alumni Award today … and to retrace my DJ roots @bailrigg_fm. Lancaster Uni changed the direction of my life, and I can’t thank them enough. An extraordinary place of learning, social mobility and ambition.
“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language”. (Henry James) Molly B appears to be in agreement …
“About 10% of our children have EHCPs; that’s one of highest rates in the country for a mainstream secondary. It means that this school has to be set up to work for all children of all needs”: inclusive leadership in action from @andrewoneillHT theguardian.com/education/2025…
Welcome bit of Friday night #WestWing uplift …
Happy 70th birthday to Jimmy Smits! 🎉