literacy highlights

11th October 2020

The more I find out about oracy skills and how they can be purposefully and relentlessly cultivated (much in the same way that ‘Learning Muscles’ can be purposefully and relentlessly cultivated), the more I realise how deeply fundamental they are to improving children’s life chances and equipping them with the skills they need to deal with the variety of wonderful and difficult situations life might throw at them. This quote, shared by Peter Hyman.

It is absolutely wonderful to see students stood in front of staff and deliver with confidence their ideas linked to ‘Black History Month’. This really is one of the most critical ways to develop their public speaking skills...transformational. Thanks Miss Sandhu for supporting and preparing these students.

After months away from school last academic year, as students complete assessments and receive feedback, it is great to see students achieving and exceeding target grades. The principle of ‘Teach, Mark, Test’ is so powerful to ensure we accelerate progress. Thank you Mr Jackson for your hard work with these students.

The most important part of the marking cycle is student feedback. It is superb to see students responding to feedback and improving their work with focus and purpose. Miss Bedesha you are an inspirational leader in the classroom.

It is lovely to see important questions like this explored and shared. Thank you Miss Bedesha.

What better way to have fun then to develop rhythms? Thanks Mr Jenkins for creating opportunities to develop oracy and linking it to music.

Taking every opportunity to use creative literacy word mats when developing writing skills is so important. Thank you Mrs Greatrix for the superb literacy-rich environment you create every lesson.

The creativity and focus in Art is wonderful to see and it is great to hear students articulate their ideas and techniques with confidence and purpose. Mr Nightingale, your guidance is critical to support the students, thank you.

During literacy briefing, we spoke about developing oracy and it was absolutely delightful to see students completing detailed extended writing pieces and bursting to share their pieces with the class. Thank you Mr Aston for creating an optimal learning and literacy environment, superb!

Group work and discussion are an essential tool for learning and this is displayed in different ways. Active learning and engagement is wonderful, thanks Mrs Sillis for your creativity with your Foundation Studies group to support their learning.

It is fantastic to see the students develop and share skills through oracy and modelling. It really is great to see students so focussed and determined. Thanks Mrs O'Shaughnessy for sharing your techniques and inspiring the students.