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Why poetry deserves a bigger place in primary writing assessment

  • by: Laura Bailey, former school leader, experienced moderation manager and Pobble's Head of Moderation and Assessment.
  • On: 3, Jun 2026

    Why poetry deserves a bigger place in primary writing assessment

    Poetry holds a special place in the primary English curriculum. It gives students space to play with language, express ideas, explore emotion and make careful choices as writers.

    How to build a whole-school writing routine teachers actually use

    When I visit schools, the writing conversations are usually very similar. Teachers talk about reluctant writers. English leads talk about consistency between year groups. Senior leaders talk about wor...

    What does independent writing actually look like?

    Key takeaways from our recent Pobble webinar, What Would a Writer Do?

    Busting statutory moderation myths: Expert insights for teachers

    Every year, as we head into the final term of the year, I speak with Year 6 teachers who tell me they are nervous about being selected for statutory external moderation. We unpick together what is cau...

    A simple way to spark better writing, starting with talk

    Before children write well, they need time to think, talk, and explore ideas without pressure.

    Is Writing Assessment Broken? Time for a 'Robust but Kind' Revolution

    During our live webinar on 14th January, one thing became abundantly clear: teachers and school leaders are exhausted by checklist moderation sessions. From attendees, we heard the same frustrations r...

    NAPLAN writing practice: a simple daily routine (with free prompts)

    Term 1 arrives with all the usual energy, new classes, new routines, and that sense that everything matters at once. Add NAPLAN into the mix, and it is easy for writing to become a last-minute scrambl...

    Oracy rich Christmas writing activities for primary

    Looking for something a little different to the usual letter to Santa? Try these festive writing ideas that start with talk, build confidence, and get words flowing.

    Using student interests to fuel great writing

    Every teacher knows the power of a topic that clicks. The room buzzes, hands shoot up, ideas pour out. When students write about something they care about, their vocabulary expands, their stamina grow...

    The simple writing hooks that motivate even reluctant writers

    Sometimes, getting started is the hardest part. For many students, a blank page can feel intimidating, even overwhelming. That’s why the right hook at the start of a writing lesson matters so much. It...

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