Booking in to raise reading standards
New chapter on literacy success
School kids from all backgrounds in Renfrewshire are top of the reading charts thanks to their role in a pioneering project.
Renfrewshire Literacy Approach works to narrow the attainment gap in literacy between pupils from low and high income households.
The teaching and leadership programme was introduced in the area in 2015.
Reading test results show an increase in standardised age scores across primary three to seven and a decrease in those with low and below average scores.
Children living in the most deprived areas are shown to have benefitted the most from the scheme, which is a joint venture between Renfrewshire Council and the University of Strathclyde.
Cabinet secretary for education and skills and Deputy First Minister John Swinney visited Our Lady of Peace Primary School in Linwood, along with senior council officials and Professor Sue Ellis from the University of Strathclyde, to officially launch the report.
Mr Swinney, said: “The Literacy Report launched today shows good progress in raising attainment in literacy and closing the poverty-related attainment gap.
“This collaborative work to improve literacy outcomes for pupils and to close the attainment gap is showing promising results and we look forward to further progress as the programme develops.”
Around 3,500 children from primary three to primary seven demonstrated ‘statistically significant improvement’ in attainment of reading through the project.
Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Policy Board, Councillor Jim Paterson, said: “This report shows the positive impact the approach has had on literacy attainment. Real progress is being made with the literacy skills of pupils.
“We are committed to seeing attainment rise even further and to narrowing the gap between economically advantaged and disadvantaged children in Renfrewshire.
“This approach is instrumental in helping to achieve this.”
The partnership has seen more than 1,000 primary and secondary schoolteachers and other learning professionals take part.
Lesley-Anne Dick, headteacher of Our Lady of Peace, said: “Staff have worked extremely hard to completely change their practice and have said they enjoy teaching reading in this way.
“The children themselves have said they enjoy having the opportunity to read or be read to every day.
“Several who were reluctant, are now reading and are now exposed to a wider variety of ‘real books’ rather than being limited to a school reading scheme.
“It is lovely to see them talking to each another about books, discussing their likes, dislikes and recommending authors.”