Literacy

Improved levels of literacy for all students continue to be a school improvement priority and we consider all teachers to be teachers of literacy.

When joining the school, students’ Key Stage 2 data supports our arrangements for teaching at the appropriate level of understanding, knowledge and skill development.  Additionally, early in Year 7, students are assessed for their ability to comprehend text and specifically supported to improve rapidly if they do not meet the nationally expected levels specific intervention strategies are put in place.

In addition to KS2 data, we use a further diagnostic test called LUCID.  This is used to assess all pupils’ literacy levels on an annual basis, beginning in Year 7.

Reading, writing, speaking and listening are all taught specifically throughout the English curriculum in Years 7 – 11.  Writing in sentences and paragraphs, spelling, grammar and punctuation are all part of the Key Stage 4 examination syllabus’ and mark schemes.
 

In Key Stage 3 (Years 7 and 8) students who require small group support to rapidly improve their understanding and skills receive it. This is provided by a specialist teacher.   As students are continually assessed for their progress ability groups may be altered.

In morning tutor times, bi-weekly, students are also exposed to the etymology of individual root words, so that they can apply that knowledge when reading, spelling and speaking; moreover bi-weekly, a current affairs topic is shared with students, with a key question, to encourage promoting speaking and listening skills.

We know that literacy is one of the key features to success in future education and employment and, therefore, we place particular emphasis on teaching and assessing literacy skills.

Eggar's Online Library Service

We also subscribe to the Hampshire Library Book Services which provides students to ability to download a range of books, magazines and newspapers.

https://soraapp.com/library/hampshiresls

eBook video

Numeracy

Improved levels of numeracy for all students continue to be a school improvement priority.  We all consider ourselves to be teachers of fundamental numeracy skills in every subject area.

Multiplication, addition, estimation, subtraction, division, algebra, charts and graphs are all taught specifically throughout the mathematics curriculum in Years 7 – 11.  Numeracy methods such as accurate use of decimal places and a calculator, doubling and halving, equivalences, partitioning, inverse multiplication, using factors and brackets as well as statistical charts are all part of the Key Stage 4 examination syllabus’ and mark schemes. When joining the school, students’ Key Stage 2 data supports our arrangements for teaching at the appropriate level of understanding, knowledge and skill development.  Additionally students are continually assessed for their progress and maths ability groups may be altered. In Key Stage 3 (Years 7 and 8) students who require small group support to rapidly improve their understanding and skills receive it.

We know that numeracy is one of the key features to success in future education and employment, therefore we place particular emphasis on teaching and assessing numeracy skills.