Secondary Reading Roadshow - Swindon

Reading is the gateway to learning. It is the key to pupils’ future academic achievement and well-being. Pupils who struggle to read words accurately quickly fall behind their peers. They read less and do not accumulate the necessary background knowledge and vocabulary from reading. To fulfil the demands of the secondary school curriculum, pupils need to be able to read age-appropriate texts fluently. Pupils who cannot read well are not able to access the curriculum and are disadvantaged for life.

“Primary-secondary transition marks a big shift in challenge. Reading must be used differently as students deepen their knowledge of curriculum subjects […] some reading needs only emerge later when the challenge of reading changes.” Prof. Jessie Ricketts Supporting all readers in secondary school - GOV.UK

These roadshows are an opportunity to find out more about research, policy and whole school strategies to support struggling readers in secondary school, and to share your views, ideas, best practice and the challenges that secondaries face.

Guest speakers:

• Marc Rowland, National Pupil Premium Advisor on addressing disadvantage

• Nisha Tank, Head of School Improvement, National Literacy Trust

Intended audience: SLT, Deputy Heads, Literacy Leads, Trust Leads, secondary improvement teams

Two funded places per secondary school. One must be the staff member in the school is responsible for the development of a whole school reading strategy (e.g. Deputy Head)