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Case study: Embedding literacy across a subject discipline

30 August 2021

Students might not consider design and technology or food lessons to be places where literacy is at the forefront of teaching and learning. Emma Goldfinch describes her school’s work to put literacy at the heart of their subject discipline

Words for All: Ideas and approaches for boosting literacy skills

30 August 2021

Whole Education's Words for All project is helping teachers to prioritise vocabulary development and reading in our secondary schools. Lisa Ling looks at some of the ideas and approaches that have proved successful...

Reading and writing poetry: Some top tips and lesson ideas

24 May 2021

Poetry can be a tough sell for some young people, but it is worth persevering. Stephanie Nobes – a teacher trailblazer for the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award – offers some quick tips and lesson ideas to hook your students

Ideas to foster a love of reading in secondary-age students

16 February 2021

How can we continue to foster a love of reading and books during lockdown and remote or blended learning? Dr Sarah McGeown offers some tips and ideas for secondary school teachers

Promoting reading using the school library

4 January 2021

How does your school library support reading and reading skills? Valerie Dewhurst offers some practical reflections and ideas, including on engaging reluctant readers

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Tackling common reading barriers

20 May 2020

The reading gap is urgent and visible. Alex Quigley identifies some common barriers and offers advice on how we can tackle them in the classroom

Home education: Resources for schools, teachers and parents: Part 3

27 April 2020

This is the third edition of the SecEd compendium of home schooling and remote education resources for schools, teachers and parents. We cover a range of subjects, as well as exercise and keeping fit, mental health and wellbeing, cultural and arts activities, and whole-school support

Five steps for home learning: A practical, realistic and effective approach

22 April 2020

We are almost one month into the coronavirus lockdown. As the summer term gets underway, Matt Bromley offers further advice on teaching activities and approaches that are practical, realistic and effective for home education

Home education: Resources for schools, teachers and parents: Part 2

7 April 2020

A range of resources and education services are being offered to schools and parents to help support home education. SecEd's second compendium lists more than 65 resources, many of which of free or open access...

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Home education: Resources for schools, teachers and parents: Part 1

24 March 2020

A range of resources and education services are being offered to schools and parents to help support the home education of students during the coronavirus crisis. Dorothy Lepkowska looks at some of what is out there, including a number of free-access resources

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Questioning and summarisation to support deep literacy

23 March 2020

Never assume they know how to do it. Ruth Everett looks at how all teachers can use questioning and the art of summarisation to support deep literacy comprehension

Pupil Premium: Levelling the playing field with high expectations

26 February 2020

How can we ensure that our disadvantaged students make good progress and achieve success? Amy Benziane discusses approaches centred on high expectations and aspiration

PISA: Beyond the league tables and the headlines

15 January 2020

The main findings and rankings of the international PISA research make newspaper headlines every three years, but there is so much more to learn if we take the time to look at the results in more depth. Steen Videbaek offers us his analysis

Breaking down literacy barriers in year 7

23 October 2019

Some pupils in year 7 lack the required vocabulary and literacy skills. Ruth Everett looks at how we can support students for whom literacy difficulties are a barrier to accessing the curriculum

A safe haven: Ideas for your school library

22 October 2019

The school library is about more than literacy and ICT – it should be a safe haven for all pupils and should cater for the whole child. Valerie Dewhurst offers some practical ideas

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A huge impact on reading: The School Librarian of the Year 2019

11 September 2019

From reading challenges to awards and visits, Ros Harding – the School Librarian of the Year 2019 – has been recognised for the wide range of literacy initiatives she undertakes with students. Emma Lee-Potter finds out more

Ideas to get them reading

3 July 2019

Getting secondary school pupils to pick up a book and develop a love of reading can sometimes be a challenge. School librarian Stephanie Horton explains the three core strategies employed at Smith’s Wood Academy and offers a few ideas and tips...

An unapology for poetry in school

21 May 2019

Poetry in schools can open the door to so many other areas of learning and skills. It can be the springboard to other literature and texts, more articulate and confident students, and can engage students like no other medium. Kathy James offers some ideas...

Literacy and numeracy