Opinion

Here I comment on a wide range of issues from education to politics, the arts and more. I welcome lively and opinionated debate, so please leave your comments.

  • Why English Teaching Still Matters: Insights from the 2025 NATE Conference

    What does it mean to teach English with creativity, care, and courage in 2025? At this year’s NATE (National Association for the Teaching of English) conference, I joined a passionate group of teachers, academics, publishers, and educational innovators, some seasoned, others just starting out, to explore that very question. In this new blog post, I reflect on five powerful lessons from a day filled with poetic metaphors, Generation Alpha pedagogy, and mindful creative writing. From Clare Lawrence’s unforgettable lentil metaphor, to conversations about inclusive teaching for a post-2010 cohort, to the joyful solidarity of English educators nationwide: this was a conference where research met emotion, and practice met possibility. I also had the pleasure of leading a mindful creative writing workshop, inspired by my book The Mindful Creative Writing Teacher (Gilbert, 2025), and saw first-hand how freeing and transformative creative writing can be when rooted in reflection rather than performance. If you care about teaching English in ways that centre imagination, identity, and student voice, and want to explore this further, take a look at our MA in Creative Writing and Education at Goldsmiths. 🔗 MA info: https://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/ma-creative-writing-education/ #MindfulWriting #NATE2025 #CreativePedagogy #EnglishTeachers #TeacherCommunity #FrancisGilbert #MindfulCreativeWritingTeacher

  • Five Things We Can Learn from Faking Hitler: Lies, Truth, and the Seduction of Fiction

    I wrote this piece after finishing Faking Hitler, the German drama now streaming on Channel 4. It’s a gripping, ironic, and surprisingly funny retelling of the Hitler Diaries scandal, a real event where forged Nazi documents were sold to Stern magazine in the 1980s. What drew me in wasn’t just the slick production or the fascinating story, but the deeper questions the series raises about truth, memory, and the fictions we choose to believe. This drama isn’t just about a historical hoax; it’s about our relationship with the past — and how easily we rewrite it. Through sharp writing and unforgettable performances, Faking Hitler explores how trauma, ambition, ideology, and denial can cloud even the sharpest minds. It’s a series that resonates disturbingly with our own times, when truth feels fragile and authoritarian myths resurface in new forms. I wanted to unpack five key takeaways from the show — about journalism, fascism, generational reckoning, and the seductive power of lies. This article is my attempt to make sense of a drama that is as psychologically rich as it is entertaining. If you’re interested in truth, fiction, or the strange space in between, read on. #FakingHitler #Channel4 #MediaEthics #Fascism #TruthAndFiction #BlogPost #CriticalMediaLiteracy #CreativeNonfiction #HistoricalDrama #MindfulMedia

  • Five things I’ve learnt training to be a mindfulness teacher

    Earlier this year, I completed the Breathworks mindfulness teacher training—a rigorous and transformative journey rooted in compassion, embodiment, and lived experience. As part of the training, I led the Mindfulness for Stress course at Goldsmiths. It taught me something simple but profound: mindfulness isn’t something you explain. It’s something you do—together. The course invites people into a shared practice. Week by week, breath by breath, we learn not to escape stress but to meet it differently—with gentleness, attention, and care. I’ve seen how powerful it is when people turn toward themselves with kindness, not judgement. That shift—toward noticing, softening, and storytelling—transforms more than you might expect. Mindfulness isn’t about fixing or improving who you are. It’s about showing up for your experience, fully and kindly. This work has changed me. It’s helped me listen to my body, soften my inner voice, and meet difficulty with presence instead of resistance. If you’re curious about mindfulness, teaching it, or simply beginning to practise, I’d love to connect. Feel free to reach out—or just pause for a breath, right here. #Mindfulness #Breathworks #MindfulTeaching #Wellbeing #Embodiment #Compassion #FrancisGilbert #Goldsmiths #MindfulLiving

  • How can you teach people to write innovatively? Here are 5 ideas…

    In this practical and thought-provoking article, I reflect on a brilliant CPD session led by writer and teacher Niall Bourke as part of the MACWE summer programme. Niall offered a masterclass in how to teach creative writing in ways that are emotionally rich, structurally sound, and genuinely original. The article outlines five key takeaways that challenge conventional, formulaic approaches to writing instruction. From the power of constraints to the centrality of voice and desire, from embracing the weird and abstract to viewing editing as a creative act, and finally to the importance of modelling without over-directing — these insights offer teachers and writers alike a fresh, flexible “toolkit” approach. Full of vivid examples, quotable gems, and links to wider reading, this piece is for anyone who believes that creative writing teaching should spark joy, courage, and clarity — not just box-ticking or genre mimicry.

  • Four Things I Learnt from Watching the Stage Version of North by Northwest

    I just published a blog about the stage version of North by Northwest at Alexandra Palace—and how it reimagines the Hitchcock classic as a theatrical ballet of identity, storytelling, and existential suspense. I’ve watched the film countless times, but this adaptation helped me see it in a whole new way. With a minimalist set (four revolving doors, a few suitcases), 1950s jazz and soul in place of Herrmann’s score, and a narrator-ringmaster who plays “Simon Says” with the audience, it’s smart, funny, and surprisingly moving. The production doesn’t parody the film—it honours it. But it also updates it. Eve Kendall is transformed into a politically astute Kennedy-esque figure; Roger Thornhill is less slick, more vulnerable. There’s a deeper emotional heart, a sharper critique of Cold War paranoia, and even a nod to Heidegger’s Dasein—we’re all thrown into roles we didn’t choose. It made me reflect on performance, surveillance, masculinity, and freedom—in the 1950s and now. If you’re curious about theatre, adaptation, or just love North by Northwest, I hope the blog’s worth a read. Let me know your thoughts—and whether you think this deserves a West End transfer too. #NorthByNorthwest #Theatre #Adaptation #Hitchcock #AllyPally #Existentialism #StageCraft #BlogPost

  • Four Reasons Why VAT on Private School Fees Is a Good Idea

    On LBC with Matthew Wright, I explained why VAT on private school fees is a fair and vital policy. It ends an unjust tax break, redirects funding to state schools, and encourages social integration. As a teacher, parent, and advocate for mindful education, I’ve seen how this can build a fairer system. Read more and listen in at www.francisgilbert.co.uk. #MindfulLearning #EducationPolicy #VAT #FairEducation #LBC

  • What’s the Best Education for Your Child?

    I recently recorded a very special episode of the Mindful Learning Podcast with my son, Theo. We went on a long car journey and ended up reflecting deeply on his education—from private prep school to state primary, local comprehensive to sixth form college, and beyond. He’s now a singer-songwriter and on the Civil Service Fast Stream. We talked honestly about bullying, creativity, great teachers, and why change can be a good thing. I also wrote an accompanying article exploring six key lessons I’ve learned as a parent navigating the education system. It’s one of the most personal things I’ve done—both as a father and as an educator. If you’re wondering what the “best” education really looks like, I hope it offers some helpful insights.

  • Six Things We Can Learn About Publishing and Navigating the World as a Writer

    What does it mean to publish bravely? To speak even when your voice shakes, or is hidden behind a pseudonym? We were honoured to welcome back Nick Bailey, alumnus of the MA in Creative Writing and Education, who opened up a rich, moving conversation about the realities of writing and publishing today. From self-publishing his genre-bending novel 2048 to working with a values-driven indie press, Nick shared not just tips, but truths: how publishing can empower, expose, disguise, and liberate. We heard from participants using pseudonyms to survive racism in education, from writers navigating rejection, and from those reshaping what it means to “be seen.” This blog distils six powerful takeaways — from building creative resilience, to understanding publishing as pedagogy. It’s about voice, not vanity. Process, not product. And why the best reason to publish is because your story needs to be told. Read it in full on my site. Reflect. Share. Teach. Because writing bravely is where publishing well begins. #MindfulPublishing #CreativeWritingEducation #NickBailey #SelfPublishing #IndiePress #PublishingAsPedagogy #MAWritingEducation #WritersOfInstagram #LinkedInWriters #BlueSkyWriters

  • Five Things We Can Learn About Fathers and Sons from Fiction

    What can fiction teach us about the complicated relationships between fathers and sons? After reading Benjamin Wood’s haunting novel A Station on the Path to Somewhere Better, I found myself reflecting on how these bonds are portrayed in literature—and how they shape us. Wood’s book, with its 1990s road trip setting, disturbed and moved me in equal measure. It made me think of other works—Turgenev, Gosse, Hornby, Roth—that reveal the pain, longing, and inherited wounds so often passed from father to son. In my latest blog, I explore five key lessons we can take from such fiction: the transmission of trauma, the hunger for approval, the myth of paternal infallibility, the performance of masculinity, and the search for identity. These themes feel especially resonant in today’s world, where ideas of fatherhood and manhood are constantly evolving.

  • Five Ways to Help Teenagers Love English and Learn to Grow as People

    ✨ How Can We Help Teenagers Love English? Too often, English is taught as a subject to pass—not a space to grow. But what if we reimagined it as a place for empathy, identity, and critical reflection? 📚 In my latest blog and Mindful Learning Podcast, I share 5 creative, inclusive strategies that help teenagers engage deeply with English through: ✔️ Reflective writing ✔️ Drama and performance ✔️ Racial and linguistic justice ✔️ Funds of knowledge pedagogy ✔️ Real-world empathy-building tasks These ideas are drawn from my chapter in Secondary English for Generation Alpha (Routledge, 2025), edited by the brilliant Lorna Smith—and my decades of teaching, writing, and listening to students. 🎧 If you’re a teacher, trainee, or parent looking to humanise your English classroom, this episode is packed with actionable inspiration. 🙏 With gratitude to Dr Maggie Pitfield (Goldsmiths) for her invaluable support and insight. 👉 Read the blog | Listen to the podcast | Share if this resonates #MindfulLearning #EnglishEducation #GenerationAlpha #LinguisticJustice #RacialLiteracy #DramaInEducation #CreativeWriting #TeacherLife #FrancisGilbert #InclusiveTeaching #Goldsmiths

  • Four Lessons from Meet the Kids at Theatre Peckham

    In May, I had the great pleasure of watching a bold, moving and beautifully realised new play by Desiri Okobia, a former Creative Writing student from Goldsmiths. It was one of those evenings that reminded me exactly why this work matters. The play created space for young voices to lead, with care, depth, and honesty. It was a celebration of talent, courage, and creative education at its best — and a moment to witness the remarkable impact of a gifted writer-educator coming into her own.

  • Five Key Things I Learned About Mental Health First Aid

    🧠 Just Completed Mental Health First Aid Training—Here’s What I Learned This week I completed the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course at Goldsmiths, led by the amazing Alicia Nagar (MHFA England). It was one of the most powerful, practical training experiences I’ve had in years. 💬 In just two days, I learned how to: Support people experiencing anxiety, depression, self-harm, psychosis, or trauma Respond with compassion, clarity, and boundaries Use the ALGEE framework to offer non-intrusive, trauma-aware help Understand how inequality impacts mental health Care for my own wellbeing as a supporter In my latest blog, I share 5 key takeaways from the course—plus why I think every educator and leader should consider MHFA training. ✨ I’ve trained in mindfulness and therapy before—but this offered something unique: A grounded, structured, deeply humane approach to supporting others in distress. 🙏 Huge thanks to Alicia and the team at Goldsmiths for making it possible. 👉 Read the blog for practical tools, reflections, and links to MHFA resources. #MentalHealthFirstAid #MHFA #WellbeingInEducation #TraumaInformedTeaching #MentalHealthAwareness #FrancisGilbert #Goldsmiths #MindfulLearning #TeacherWellbeing #ALGEE

  • Five Salty Lessons from The Salt Path: Walking the Edge of the World

    I wrote Five Salty Lessons from The Salt Path after watching the new film adaptation of Raynor Winn’s powerful memoir. Having read the book, listened to the radio version, and walked sections of the South West Coast Path myself—often with my son—I was moved by how the film captured the raw, weather-beaten truth of Raynor and Moth’s journey. This piece blends personal reflection with literary and philosophical insight, drawing on thinkers like Deleuze, Spinoza, and Wordsworth, and weaving in texts like Beowulf to explore the deeper meanings of salt, walking, homelessness, love, and home. More than a review, it’s an essay about transformation: how walking can be a form of becoming, how landscapes tell stories, and how we find belonging not in possessions, but in presence, connection, and kindness. If you’ve ever felt changed by a path, haunted by a film, or comforted by a wild blackberry on a wet day, I hope this speaks to you.

  • 7 Transformative Lessons from First Story’s Creative Writing Approach – A Goldsmiths Reflection

    In this blog, I reflect on an inspiring session led by novelist and First Story writer-in-residence Pete Hobbs. Drawing on seventeen years of working with young writers, Pete shared a wealth of practical, playful exercises and a deeply inclusive pedagogy that reimagines creative writing as a space for experimentation, voice, and community. From evoking memory through sensory detail to empowering students to write in their own linguistic registers, his approach offers powerful strategies for educators at all levels. This post captures the session’s key takeaways—and celebrates the joyful, transformative possibilities of writing. It left me rethinking how I teach.

  • Seven Things Creative Writing Teachers Should Know About Safeguarding

    I’m Francis Gilbert, and I’ve just published a vital blog post: Seven Things Creative Writing Teachers Should Know About Safeguarding. Drawing on a powerful masterclass led by Danja Sanovic at Goldsmiths, I reflect on how safeguarding isn’t just a legal box-tick but a deeply creative, relational act. Whether you’re teaching in schools, leading workshops in the community, or working with adults, this post offers clear, compassionate guidance. It’s essential reading for anyone using writing to reach vulnerable groups. Creativity thrives when everyone feels safe. Read the post and rethink how you hold your writing spaces.

  • 6 Ways to Design Effective Creative Writing Lessons

    I’ve written this blog to share some of the key insights from a recent seminar I delivered for students on the MA in Creative Writing and Education at Goldsmiths—and for anyone interested in designing more mindful, engaging creative writing lessons. Drawing on the CASTERS framework, James Nottingham’s “Learning Pit,” and ideas around publishing, reflection, and inclusive practice, the session offered practical strategies for teaching writing with presence, purpose, and care. Whether you’re a teacher, writer, or facilitator, this blog offers inspiration and guidance for creating lessons that challenge, connect, and empower. Find out more and join the conversation.

  • Publishing as Pedagogy: Why Creative Writers and Teachers Need to Understand the Industry

    In this article, I explore why knowledge of the publishing industry is essential for both creative writers and educators. Drawing on my experience teaching publishing to MA students, I argue that understanding how books are produced, marketed, and circulated can empower writers and transform the way we teach creative writing. This piece is both a call to action and a practical guide for integrating publishing literacy into the creative writing classroom.

  • Reimagining the Future of Publishing: Five Observations on YA, Pedagogy, and Digital Literature

    In this blog, I explore how contemporary YA literature acts as both a cultural mirror and a critical tool—reflecting the world young people live in while helping them make sense of it. Drawing on Suico et al.’s content analysis and Warner’s ideas about literature as ritual, I look at how YA fiction engages with themes like trauma, justice, and identity. I also consider the growing academic interest in YA and what this means for classrooms today. Ultimately, the blog reflects on how YA can offer not just stories, but space—for reflection, resistance, and hope.

  • The perils and pleasures of creative writing competitions and prizes: 5 key points

    Prizes often symbolize external recognition, but what if I reimagined them as personal milestones—self-awarded markers of creativity, persistence, and growth? In this blog, I explore how literary prizes shape careers and confidence while offering five strategies to navigate competitions and create personal benchmarks. I introduce ‘internal prizes’—small yet meaningful ways to celebrate achievements, from finishing a tough draft to inspiring students. Drawing on insights from Kei Miller, Kristin Neff, and literary organizations, I invite you to rethink success and resilience. Prizes have power, but they don’t define your worth. Honour your journey—on your terms.

  • Only Connect: Creative Writing Comes Alive at the British Library

    Only Connect: Creative Writing at the British Library was a vibrant and inspiring event that brought together twenty creative minds to explore the power of writing. Led by MA Creative Writing and Education students from Goldsmiths, participants engaged in a carousel of interactive workshops, each designed to spark creativity and deepen connections with the British Library’s collection. From crafting dialogues with historical figures to exploring the sensory world of smells and sounds, the event encouraged new ways of seeing, hearing, and feeling stories. Attendees left feeling inspired, with many calling for more in-depth sessions. Want to be part of the next one? Stay tuned for future creative writing events at www.francisgilbert.co.uk!