Introduction to ‘Searching for Excellence’ with Bob Cox
Key-Notes on ‘Pitching High’
Strategies for Opening Doors to Challenging English for All
Coaching for Impact
Welcome to Bob Cox’s ‘Searching for Excellence’ website. ‘Searching for Excellence’ offers experienced, professional support for the development of learning in schools. Since becoming a freelance educational consultant in 2007, Bob has worked with a range of schools cross-phase and has delivered inset at national, international and county conferences, often in a leading capacity. He has now supported over 450 schools in their “search for excellence”. Bob Cox is an advanced skills teacher with 23 years teaching experience and most of his ideas have been used in his own workshop sessions with pupils.
Bob’s most popular briefs recently have involved ‘Pitching High’ key-notes, support for mastery learning, inspiring more able learners and a whole range of strategies connected with his ‘Opening Doors’ books.
Award Winning Author: ‘The Educational Resources Award’:
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 as 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
“Bob was a pleasure to work with and his professional, thoughtful approach was very popular with our delegates. His enthusiasm and love of classic texts was palpable and immediately engaging; many of our schools here in Leeds have now adopted his approach to ensure that this material is part of their reading and writing curricula.” Steve Dawson, Leeds LA, key-note 2018
“Bob Cox gave a superb keynote at SAPERE’s annual Philosophy for Children (P4C) conference, November 2017, that was engaging, thought-provoking and with many practical ideas for teachers. Bob showed us how philosophy can breathe life into reading and writing; drawing on his Opening Doors books that promote dialogue and a creative approach to the curriculum.”
Lizzy Lewis, SAPERE, Partnerships and Content Manager
“I have been fortunate enough to be able to engage with Bob Cox and his Opening Doors philosophy both as a class teacher and as a senior leader of education for Poole. The impact of his training and the excellent books has been profound.”
Ross Browne, Assistant Head Teacher, Talbot Primary School
“The use of classic texts in literature has inspired children of all abilities to access high quality texts which have stimulated ideas, encouraged pupils and given them the confidence to read and explore literature they may not otherwise have chosen to read. Once hooked, the children have generated their enthusiasm into producing written work of a high quality.”
Wendy Thomas, Head Teacher, Churchfields Junior School
“Bob has not only helped us open the door for children to discover, appreciate and explore poetry and prose, but he has opened the door for our teachers: showing us what is possible when we teach without limits.”
Warren Glew, Deputy Head at Overton CE Primary School, a National Teaching School and the lead school of the Aspire Teaching School Alliance
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
“All Bob’s books should be in every school and used.” 16th April 2017
Pie Corbett – teacher, author, storyteller and developer of Talk4Writing
Comments placed on twitter
“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!
