Literacy catch-up for secondary schools

The Literacy Handbook for Teachers and The Guide to Greatness offers secondary schools the complete literacy ‘lost-learning’ catch-up solution to:

  • improve literacy and communication in every subject
  • progress learning
  • boost confidence
  • enhance wellbeing
  • lift exam results
  • lead and manage literacy across the whole school

For Students

The Guide to Greatness has proven to be life-changing in its ability to unlock potential.

Easy and simple to use, The Guide to Greatness works across all subjects and learning areas, demystifying common literacy problems to unlock learning so 11 to 18+-year-olds can show how brilliant they can be.

‘This book is a life-saver’

Leigh, 17

For Teachers

The Literacy Handbook for Teachers and The Guide to Greatness provides a simple, effective, and sustainable solution to literacy across and within the curriculum in secondary education. Freeing up teachers of all subjects to teach the best possible lessons.

‘My learners are expected to effectively research, read, analyse, articulate and communicate in several different ways. These handbooks are proving invaluable for learners of all levels’

S Thomas
Senior Lecturer, Pembrokeshire College

Why is improving literacy in every subject critical to success?

‘Reading, writing, vocabulary and talking all mediate the school curriculum. Every teacher, therefore, needs to know how academic reading mediates the sophisticated language of each subject in secondary school - and what they can do about it.’

Read All About It: Why reading is key to GCSE success, GL Assessment, 2020

‘Over half the teachers surveyed reported that at least 40% of their pupils lacked the vocabulary to access their learning…60% of secondary school teachers believe the word gap is increasing.’

Why Closing the Word Gap Matters: Oxford Language Report, Oxford University Press, 2018

‘Literacy is key to academic success across the curriculum, and is more important than ever as curriculum reforms place new demands on students and teachers.’

Sir Kevan Collins, Chief Executive, Improving Literacy in Secondary Schools, Educational Endowment Fund, 2019

‘Better literacy leads to improved self-esteem, motivation and behaviour. It allows pupils to learn independently. It is empowering.’

Improving literacy in secondary schools: a shared responsibility, Ofsted, 2013

‘Given the importance of literacy to the whole school curriculum, it follows that those students who struggle with reading are at a significant disadvantage in every one of the GCSE examinations they take.’

Read All About It: Why reading is key to GCSE success, GL Assessment, 2020

‘Reading, writing, and talking is crucial for our students to succeed. Yet, too many secondary school teachers and leaders prove undertrained and simply too busy to support their students to best access the demands of the academic curriculum.’

Alex Quigley, National Content Manager at the Education Endowment Foundation.

‘25% of all 15-year-olds have a reading age of 12 or below.’

Read All About It: Why reading is key to GCSE success, GL Assessment, 2020

‘All teachers should be supported to understand how to teach students to read, write, and communicate effectively in their subjects.’

Improving Literacy in Secondary Schools, Education Endowment Foundation, 2019

‘Better literacy raises pupils’ attainment in all subjects.’

Improving literacy in secondary schools: a shared responsibility, Ofsted, 2013

‘Children who are weak readers will struggle as much in maths and science at GCSE as they do in English and in arts subjects.’

Read All About It: Why reading is key to GCSE success, GL Assessment, 2020

‘85% of success comes from communication skills, 15% from knowledge/technical skill.’

Carnegie Institute of Technology

‘Children (8-18) who are the most engaged with literacy are three times more likely to have higher levels of mental wellbeing than children who are the least engaged’

Reading, Writing and Wellbeing, National Literacy Trust, September 2018

‘Vocabulary skills at age 12 strongly predict both maths and English GCSE results more strongly than socio-economic background’

OUP

‘Literacy is key to learning across all subjects… and a strong predictor of outcomes in later life.’

Improving Literacy in Secondary Schools, Educational Endowment Fund, 2019

‘Reading is the master skill of secondary school. Skilled reading, writing, and talking is crucial for our students to succeed.’

Alex Quigley, National Content Manager, Education Endowment Foundation

85% of success comes from communication skills, 15% from knowledge/technical skill

Carnegie Institute of Technology

Children (8-18 year-olds) who are the most engaged with literacy are three times more likely to have higher levels of mental wellbeing than children who are the least engaged

Reading, Writing and Wellbeing, National Literacy Trust, September 2018

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