Thematic report | 2 January 2015

Literacy in key stage 3: An interim report - January 2015

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Thematic report | 02/01/2015

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This report is the second in a series, published in response to a request for advice in the Minister's annual remit letter to Estyn for 2013-2014. It looks at standards in literacy at key stage 3, and how a selection of secondary schools is developing pupils’ literacy skills across the curriculum with a particular reference to the implementation, and impact of the first year of the literacy component of the National Literacy and Numeracy Framework (LNF)

Recommendations

Schools should:

implement a progressive and well co-ordinated cross-curricular approach to developing pupils’ literacy skills, in line with the expectations in the LNF;
track and monitor the progression in pupils’ literacy skills against the end-of-year expectations of the LNF;
encourage English and Welsh subject experts to take the lead in improving links between subjects to support a consistent, progressive approach to developing pupils' literacy skills;
provide good opportunities and support across the curriculum for pupils to improve their writing, including its technical accuracy; and
monitor and evaluate the impact of strategies for improving pupils' literacy skills.

Local authorities / regional consortia should:

clarify the roles of local authorities, consortia and the national support partners for training and supporting schools in the implementation of the LNF; and
improve the use of transition cluster meetings to establish a consistent approach to the teaching of literacy skills.

Welsh Government should:

make support materials for schools available in advance of further developments of the framework;
make sure that all schools can access support materials easily; and
provide schools with clear guidance on assessment and offer exemplification of expected literacy standards across all subjects.