The Guardian view on new musicals: sex, drugs and song ‘n’ dance | Editorial Editorial: Adaptations of hit novels like One Day and Trainspotting help keep the genre in tune with the times

‘As Yip Harburg, lyricist of The Wizard of Oz, put it: “Words make you think thoughts, music makes you feel a feeling, but a song makes you feel a thought.” Choose songs. Choose joy. Choose musicals.’ @theguardian.com

Thought for the day (from our walk in Bildeston, #Suffolk, today:

Just when we thought the news couldn't get much worse ... (via @apiln.bsky.social)

How to imagine new futures Where are the Benjamin Disraelis and Michael Foots of today?

“If only our politicians would get off Twitter and pick up a novel …”: entertaining piece by @tommctague.bsky.social @newstatesman1913.bsky.social: www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

👏👏👏

How far back in time can you understand English? An experiment in language change

English teachers in particular - you’ll love this: ‘How far back in time can you understand English? An experiment in language change’: www.deadlanguagesociety.com/p/how-far-ba...

Game of Thrones: Prequel play The Mad King to open in Stratford-Upon-Avon this summer The stage prequel will be set 10 years before the events of the original books and TV series.

“A new play based on fantasy series Game of Thrones is set to open in Stratford-upon-Avon this summer, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has announced …”

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Delighted to see Stephen (aka Lord) Parkinson making the case for the arts in state schools. And am also proud that I taught him when he was a student in Years 9-11 at our rural comprehensive - Thurston Community College, Suffolk:

Yes. Magnificent!

How accurate is Hamnet? The Shakespeare scholar’s verdict The award-winning film starring Jessie Buckley has left many viewers in tears, but this expert was upset for other reasons

We went to see ‘Hamnet’ this week and loved the directing, the acting, the storytelling. However … just how accurate is the film? Here’s the fascinating verdict of eminent Shakespearean scholar @profbate.bsky.social @thetimes.com: [£]

www.thetimes.com/culture/film...

Thought you set the series up brilliantly on ‘Today’ this morning. Sounds chilling. G

SecEd Podcast: Our new episode in partnership with @the-rsc.bsky.social offers practical ideas & #teaching techniques for engaging students in the work of William #Shakespeare. Some amazing tips from @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social Jacqui O'Hanlon & Emma Aubrey, head of Dowdales School buff.ly/EgEDVOy

Ah, yes. A similar version here in the east: ‘Harwich for the continent; Frinton for the incontinent’.

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The joy of annotated road signs (via @theguardian.com letters page) …

Nope.

GB-New-Year-2026-mix An upbeat mix to kick-start 2026 ...

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2026 … via this GeoffyB New Year megamix: www.mixcloud.com/GeoffyB/gb-n... #Cheesy

Da-dah .... Roll of drums ...
Here's the Christmas 2025 Barton Bookshelf: 10 books that have entertained, disturbed, provoked or transported me in recent months - 5 fiction / 5 non-fiction. Full notes on my LinkedIn page. Enjoy!

An illuminating report on #oracy by @literacy-trust.bsky.social …

🚨NEW PODCAST🚨

Everyone agrees the SEND system is broken, but how do you fix it?

@realgeoffbarton.bsky.social and @eleanorrrlouise.bsky.social joined me to talk through the analysis and proposals in their new @ippr.org report on reforming SEND.

Listen here: insideyoured.com

Why Shakespeare and oracy go hand in hand The curriculum and assessment review cements Shakespeare’s place in classrooms, but teaching must focus on bringing his words to life, writes Geoff Barton

‘Many years ago, I took my parents to see The Merchant of Venice. Portia was halfway through her “Quality of mercy” speech when my father decided to join in. Shakespeare was in his bloodstream …’: my @tesmagazine.bsky.social piece celebrating the RSC’s new curriculum: www.tes.com/magazine/tea...

Great to see the importance of Oracy being so clearly recognised in the CAR! Congratulations to @voice21oracy.bsky.social @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social and many others & thank you for all your hard work!

"We're not saying that we have an education system that isn't working for all young people, it's just not working for enough young people".

📻 @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social on @bbc5live.bsky.social 👇

Just finished Ian McEwan’s latest. At first I wasn’t sure about it. I liked the dystopian stuff, but didn’t care about the people, the narrative. Then part 2 kicks in and it all coheres - a haunting exploration of memory, storytelling, the intersection of our past & present. Superb #BartonBookshelf

Fabulous! G

Thanks you, Helen

Statutory SEND support should not need diagnosis, say experts Taskforce urges the government to create a new layer of statutory SEND support in mainstream schools - but to keep existing EHCPs temporarily

A handy summary via @tesmagazine.bsky.social of what we say about improving inclusion in today's @ippr.org report: www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Talking Inclusion… With Geoff Barton Education Podcast · A podcast from the IPPR Inclusion Taskforce What does truly inclusive education look like, and how can we make it better? Hosted by Geoff Barton, former general secretary of the…

🎧 “Please don’t ignore us" - Cath Kitchen, chair of the National Association of Hospital Education spotlights why children with medical needs must be included in the SEND conversation.
New episode of Talking Inclusion... with @RealGeoffBarton.bsky.social is live!
podcasts.apple.com/ug/podcast/t...

Belatedly - thank you!

Those Covid months remembered ...