‘Opening Doors’ is all about making challenging texts and a quality English curriculum available to all learners. Bob and his team can support your initiatives to ensure access and excellence is at the heart of planning and entitlement.
The picture you see above is from ongoing support for The Wonder Institute. Bob travelled to the East Riding of Yorkshire having already delivered a number of webinars. These are English Leads from KS2 and 3. I’ve been delighted to hear this from TL Advisor Kirsty McMurdo:
‘The session was nothing short of transformative – our writing lessons now all feature high quality texts and follow the ‘Opening Doors’ principles.’
Bob has supported around 500 schools directly and delivered well over 1000 insets of various types across the UK and abroad. Webinars are also available. Please read more on this website on how your English curriculum can become more challenging. Contacts are here:
bobcox@searchingforexcellence.co.uk
Twitter: @BobCox_SFE
In 2017, Bob became an award winning author with the two ‘Quality Writing’ books being awarded best educational book resource by the judges of the Educational Resource Awards. See the bottom of the page for the citation.
See below for details of the units in the books, for reviews and to buy, if you wish
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bob-Cox/e/B00GNBMNEG?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1670334262&sr=8-1
Latest News from Bob
Please enjoy scanning the reviews, news and free resources below, including webinars that should support your work on developing your English curriculum. I’ll try to post ‘open’ events as they come. It’s a feed of news with the latest first!
- by working with you on the principles and strategies which can raise English standards for all
- by modelling how challenging, quirky and exciting texts – poetry and prose – can be utilised for access and enjoyment by every pupil
- by referencing the work of our network schools which has been developing and growing for ten years
- by emphasising equity and excellence
- by showing HOW high pitch thinking can be delivered in the classroom: theory into practice We work as a team of educators and you can find out more about us here: Packages of Support
Ten Years of ‘Opening Doors’
We have been building expertise across the team over many years in long careers but the last decade has been particularly exciting. From humble beginnings, we have become a major supportive provider across the nation and it’s thanks to the classroom impact reported by so many schools. We can model how all pupils can access and enjoy the rich curriculum they are entitled to. There is no one way to teach English but we can show the potential of quality text to quality writing routes and confront the detail of exactly HOW pitch high work can include all. It’s adaptive teaching. Contact bobcox@searchingforexcellence.co.uk to find out more!
Autumn Term, 2025
Many teachers gathered together at Brighton FC via The Diocese of Chichester to hear Leah Crawford speak about excellence for all in English! DCAT schools have had a lot of training from our team over the years and it was thrilling for it all to come together share the impact and receive new ideas from Leah!
Poetry Inset in London
This is an opportunity to boost your knowledge and practical ideas for the teaching of poetry.If you are within range of London, do consider going! Many thanks Hallsville School in Newham
Annual Conference for Worcester LA
Leah Crawford presented recently to a large audience of Worcester primary and secondary teachers and each one received ‘Opening Doors to a Richer English Curriculum, 10-13’ We are privileged to be asked to explore our long term work on excellence in English with so many schools.
Annual Conference October 7th
There is nothing more exciting than schools presenting on the impact of excellence in English work via ‘Opening Doors’! Many thanks to the English Association for backing our work and making this possible.
Here is a selection of the appreciative comments:
‘ I found it inspiring to see the different ways Bob Cox’s ‘Opening Doors’ approach was implemented’
‘I think the OD strategies and books have enabled us to apply key concepts and ideas and its empowered us to design our own curiculum’
‘I liked seeing how this is actually taught in schools with practical examples from real teachers.’
‘…it will make reading and writing exciting for them which I think is essential’
‘Amazing presentations today from schools. I love the idea of poetry being a major key to opening doors’
‘Loved hearing about the CAR review’
New Hubs
As you make your plans for the new academic year, do consider signing up for one of our new hubs. I’m featuring one in Yorkshire, one in Buckinghamshire and one in Southampton here but there are many others of different types. Contact me on bobcox@searchingforexcellence.co.uk to hear about any others or start your own.
This is a very exciting opportunity if you are within range of Southampton. Thanks to the Inspire Partnership and my colleague, Leah Crawford!
This hub is being opened at Richmond Hill Primary, Doncaster
This hub is being opened at Burford Primary School, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Summer Term, 2025
I am very proud to announce that I have been made a Fellow of the English Association and had the pleasure of collecting this award at their annual conference in London. This is deep recognition for the work all our schools do pioneering for a more ambitious English curriculum for all and the help they receive from the opening doors team! It was wonderful hearing Michael Rosen as the key-note speaker of course!
‘Opening Doors’ educators have been working around the country including Buckinghamshire, Haringey, Hampshire and Birmingham. Our new associate, Laura Spargo is developing a series of glimmers and I hope you will want to find out more: https://lauraspargo.substack.com/p/coverage-over-creativity?r=4cvlkw&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true
‘To Cover or Not to Cover, That is the Question’
Well, that is the title of my latest blog where I outline some of the advantages of opening doors to richer English for all, rather than merely ticking assessment boxes without deeper learning. Enjoy!
It’s been a privilege being involved in a huge amount of support for Birmingham schools. The team has been working for two years with The Birmingham Education Partnership but also with trusts and schools around the city. Angela Jenkins and Laura Spargo spoke to Summit Learning teachers about excellence and equity in non-fiction approaches and reading for pleasure and growth.
Meanwhile, on the same day, Leah Crawford was presenting to a huge audience at the Shirelands Trust annual conference!
Spring Term, 2025
#FREE#
Reading for Pleasure and Growth: Ideas from the Opening Doors Network
Thanks to Dr Becky Fisher and The English Association for hosting this webinar which you have the chance to view free here! I am joined by Leah Crawford, one of our Opening Doors authors and consultants plus special guest Jennifer Webb who is Director of English at The Carlton Academy Trust. We talk about how independent reading can be boosted in response to The National Literacy Trust report on Reading for Pleasure.
You can also access the slides used in the talks for free.
New Review in the UKLA/NATE/English Association ‘English 4-11’ magazine!
We were very proud to see a review of ‘Opening Doors to Ambitious Primary English’ in the prestigious ‘English 4-11’ magazine. Please read it here:
You can read the full review without downloading it on the impact page:
News from Around the UK
Support for Kings Academy Rowner Junior and Gomer Junior in Gosport
Do read here on the schools’ website the impact of the training.
https://kgarowner.uk/2025/03/18/the-importance-of-teachers-learning/
New Birmingham Hub
Thanks to Uzhama Jabeen and the Somerville School, Birmingham, cluster for inviting me to jump start their ‘Opening Doors’ hub in a really buzzing session at Adderley Primary School!
Training and support to date has included schools in Buckinghamshire, Kew, Bracknell, the NACE network and The Cotswold Beacon Trust. Along with my colleague, Julie Sargent, it was a pleasure to speak at a full day literacy conference via The Birmingham Education Partnership. We hope you all enjoyed it.
I must make special mention of the work led by Angela Jenkins – a key ‘Opening Doors’ consultant – working with Penn Wood School in Slough. They held a training day focussed on excellence for all in English via ‘Opening Doors’. Visiting teachers observed lessons, read pupils’ work, watched videos and had formal inset sessions. It was just incredible and a very rich experience for all concerned.
Paths to Excellence Blog
If you are wondering how to navigate the many paths to excellence for all in English, why not read this fascinating blog by Shelly Geeson, Co-Headteacher of Ashby C of E Primary School? It will give you ideas on how exciting English can develop. Ideas are growing all the time from our UK network.
Illustration by Vicky Cox from ‘Opening Doors to Famous Poetry and Prose’ unit 5 ‘The Path’ by Edward Thomas
Autumn, 2024
I absolutely loved returning to Devon in early November to work with Ivy Trust schools near Dawlish. They are developing excellent English for all across the Trust now!
Opening Doors Face to Face Conference via The English Association
Bringing together schools from across the UK has been a dream for a while and Dr Rebecca Fisher, CEO of The English Association helped to make it happen! See this page for more!
FREE English Association ‘Opening Doors’ Teacher Presentations
Thanks to The English Association to Leah Crawford and above all, to Abbie Priest and Ben Lodge for passing on some of the ways they have developed ‘Opening Doors’ widely! You will find this very helpful and inspiring
https://englishassociation.ac.uk/opening-doors-for-teachers-and-pupils/
The team has been travelling across the UK including to Eastbourne, Oxford, Uxbridge, London and Hampshire in just the first couple of days. In both my opening insets schools are setting off on CPD journeys to open doors to ambitious English. Thanks to Knightwood and St Helen’s College (below).
Opening Doors at The Education Festival, Wellington College!
July, 2024
I would like to thank the many teachers who jammed into the room to hear me speak about the kinds of ambitious journeys our schools are on! You will find the PP linked on this page:
Summer Term Journeys
I have also been to schools in The Ivy Education Trust in Devon and will be returning in November to speak to a wider audience. My two year partnership with PIXL is about to come to an end and I’d like to thank them for backing challenging English all the way!
Another highlight has been the privilege of presenting at the United Kingdom Literacy Association (UKLA) international conference in Brighton. You can read more and access the PP here
Reviews
We have been thrilled to receive this review of ‘Opening Doors to Ambitious Primary English’ from The National Association of Primary Education (NAPE)
Other reviews are here and thanks to so many people for appreciating our book
We have been thrilled to receive this five star review from ‘Schools Week’ by Emma Cate Stokes. Thank you!
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/opening-doors-to-ambitious-primary-english-by-bob-cox/
Here is just a small part of it:
As a teacher, having taught in multiple disadvantaged areas, the robust current of social justice and equity pulsating through the chapters truly resonates. The children we teach, every one of them, are worthy of ambitious learning opportunities. The book’s approach to pedagogy is not exclusive; instead, it strives for inclusivity, aiming to unlock doors for all young learners.What makes this book a standout for me are the real-life case studies. Authored by educators brimming with enthusiasm and dedication, these narratives recount their experiences applying the Opening Doors methodologies in their classrooms.
Click below to read many other reviews of the book including those by Professor Teresa Cremin (Open University), Nicola Mansfield (PIXL), Toria Bono ‘Tiny Voice Talks’, Kelly Ashley and many others including advisors, headteachers and teachers
Spring Term 2024
Highlights from the spring term would be a visit to Grafton Primary in Islington, my continuation of online work with PIXL and many other travels:
St Matthews’ Primary in Birmingham, (third time!),Haringey Education Partnership, North London, Starting our second year with The Chichester Diocese (DCAT), Insets with St Mary’s School, Southampton and Our Lady’s Primary in Dartford. Thank you!
Autumn Term, 2023
Thanks to the Delta Academies Trust for the privilege of speaking at their huge conference in Knottingly to many schools interested in opening doors to ambitious English. I look forward to hearing how you all get on!
Greenwich LA Conference at Mulgrave Primary School
‘Opening Doors’ has been working with Greenwich LA schools for a long time so returning to speak at Mulgrave Primary was very enjoyable and thrilling too! I was joined by Sara Abbas the English Lead there in speaking to schools from across the area. As so often, it’s the practical learning activities that delegates liked the most, for example:
- practical advice on how to use strategies in school
- seeing examples of the use of radial layouts, plus examples of children’s work
- range of texts as inspiration for link texts
- discussions around pitching high for all
Hertfordshire for Learning Conference
It was a privilege to be a special guest speaker at The Hertfordshire for Learning ‘Stronger in Knowledge’ symposium. They are an organisation which constantly stimulates excellence in education. I quote from their ‘X’ (tweet) ‘What an inspiring session with @BobCox_SFE. High expectations and ambitions for all pupils, using high quality texts to explore concepts/craft, can lead to phenomenal writing.’
I was asked back to a cluster of schools called The Forest Edge Federation and also to St Augustines in Frimley, Surrey and worked on the next steps to open more doors. At both schools, the book love was evident!
Summer Term, 2023
I have been very busy indeed, whether presenting at major conferences or supporting individual schools. Travels have included a follow up visit to Belmont Academy in Erith, ongoing work which we are all enjoying for the Diocese of Chichester schools, ranging across the south, and a great trip to St Mary’s Primary in Southampton. I can’t mention them all but thanks for your welcomes and enthusiasms.
I was very privileged to be part of a team of speakers at the Ad Astra Annual Conference in Middlesbrough. It really was special, so thanks to Andy Brown and the team. This quote is on twitter from Helen Durnion, one of the Ad Astra TL Leaders:
‘Thank you for inspiring us today. So proud of Kathy Wright from West Park for sharing their journey.’
I’d like to thank Kathy too! We are increasingly finding that our teachers who have developed our work in their contexts, long term, are moving the ambitious English agenda on further. That’s the way it should be. ‘Opening Doors’ facilitates CPD on a day to day basis because the scope of the texts gives schools the potential to go deeper and build autonomy.
I’ve also been once again presenting for PIXL at The Oval! This time I was interviewed by TL Leader Nicola Mansfield and made the case for all pupils’ entitlement to equity and excellence. We try to help schools, LAs and trusts find a route forward in terms of HOW to pitch high and include all.
The text is from ‘October, October’ by Katya Balen which we feature in ‘Opening Doors to Ambitious Primary English’.
The illustration – like all ‘Opening Doors’ illustrations – is by Vicky Cox!
Spring Term 2023
It was a dynamic atmosphere in Kenilworth recently via Gateway Alliance with myself and Angela Jenkins presenting ideas to develop a richer, more ambitious English curriculum to over a hundred teachers from across the Midlands!
Thanks everyone!
Thanks Gateway Alliance!
https://gatewayalliance.co.uk/
Here is a flavour of the evaluations:
- Writing standards was great for clarity and direction of curriculum. It was useful to look through pieces of writing evidence.
- Really enjoyed the morning session – some great ideas for classes that will be easy to implement and also to explain to colleagues. Really liked how the activities we looked at were short in length but the depth we could go into was highlighted well. Great range of texts – very inspiring. Loved the models of work from children.
- Fantastic, enthusiastic delivery of very workable and accessible strategies with opportunities for participation.
- Insightful session – great teaching tools to improve writing across school.
- Bob Cox was fantastic and really helped to bring back the foundations of what English teaching is all about. It was great to have so many examples of texts and how children have reworked these.
- Great speakers, inspiring to meet an educational author who I follow. Moderation materials very useful.
Award Winning Author: ‘The Educational Resources Award’:
“All Bob’s books should be in every school and used.” 16th April 2017
Pie Corbett – teacher, author, storyteller and developer of Talk4Writing
On March 17th, 2017, Bob became an award winning author!
Bob’s ‘Opening Doors to Quality Writing’ books have won an award in the ‘educational book’ category at The Educational Resources Awards! Here is
what the judges said:
“Described as two gems which provide innovative approaches to exploring quality texts as stimuli for children’s writing. Judges described ‘The Opening Doors to Quality Writing’ series is an invaluable resource, particularly for non-specialist teachers. Excellent literary choices contained within very attractively produced books.”
Bob accepted the award ‘for all the amazing teachers opening doors for their pupils to language, literature and life chances’.
“Teachers that have used the books report enhanced confidence, a broader range of teaching strategies and a greater sense of enjoyment and achievement.”
Martin Galway, Teaching and Learning Adviser (English), Herts for Learning Ltd
Reactions to the award include:
“Congratulations to Bob Cox, ERA award winner, for such a fine series of books on teaching writing. Essential resources for raising our game.”
18th March 2017
“Well deserved Bob! I attended your training last year and this has had a huge impact on the expectations we have of our pupils and the quality and complexity of the texts we are using. Rarely have I been on training that has had such an impact on my practice – having done the job for nearly 20 years and been a consultant for part of that time.”
Samantha Collier, Vice Principal, Hillcrest Academy For Gorse Academies Trust
There are now thousands of schools using Bob’s ‘going deeper’ strategies! Bob and his team would like to work with you on an exciting journey using all kinds of quality reading – picture books, children’s fiction and literary classics – to stimulate quality writing. We want to help spread the use of quality texts, poetry and literature in primary schools and across the transition phase to KS3!