Secondary Success Stories
Accelerated Reader school announced as Secondary School of the Year!
Cathedral Academy, Wakefield
Cathedral Academy, in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, has been crowned Secondary School of the Year in the Tes School Awards 2019! We spoke with Judy Pescod, the school librarian, about how the features of Accelerated Reader and Star Reading have helped grow Cathedral Academy to the impressive institute it is today…
Engaging reluctant readers with myON
Nishkam High School, Birmingham
Nishkam High School in Birmingham, an avid Accelerated Reader user, was one of the first schools in the UK to use myON with its students! Here, Sharan Kaur, the school’s librarian, discusses how she’s found it so far.
Congratulations to Casterton College!
Casterton College, Rutland
Casterton College was shortlisted for Secondary School of the Year in the Tes Schools Awards 2019! The school’s librarian, Debbie Scott, tells us using Accelerated Reader since 2015 has helped them to achieve the school’s incredible performance.
How we raised literacy levels in our Year 7 and 8 students
by Nadia Ward and Debbie Kennedy, Wilmington Academy, Dartford
Wilmington Academy is a mixed, non-selective secondary academy and part of the Leigh Academies Trust, with a much higher ratio of boys to girls (65% vs. 35%). Nadia Ward (Assistant Principal & Director of Literacy) and Debbie Kennedy (Academy Librarian) share their story on how they raised literacy levels in their school.
“A natural way to improve English”
Elan English Learning Centres, China
Students from Elan English Learning Centres in China are enjoying the professional learning program from the school, boosted by Renaissance. Having implemented Accelerated Reader in 2013, they have found improved literacy standards, with the wider benefits this entails on vocabulary, grammar etc.
How to embed literacy across the curriculum
The Hurlingham Academy, Fulham, London
Using Accelerated Reader and designated silent reading time, Hurlingham Academy have seen improvements in attitudes towards reading, and the time spent doing it.
Establishing a school-wide reading ethos
Mountain Ash Comprehensive School, Rhondda Cynon Taff
Mountain Ash Comprehensive School is a Secondary school with over 800 pupils on roll, based in Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales. Lauren Mackie, Assistant Head, and Karen Siminov, Literacy Coach, describe how the school’s reading culture has changed since September 2016.
Engendering a whole-school reading approach within one term
Hayle Academy, Hayle, Cornwall
In their first term of Accelerated Reader implementation, Hayle Academy have revolutionised their reading approach across the curriculum.
Improving GCSE results by focusing on literacy
Pendle Vale College, Nelson, Lancashire
Pendle Vale College first introduced Accelerated Reader in 2011. In 2016 the first group to use it completed their GCSEs, and achieved the school's strongest ever results! Anita Vine, Librarian, describes the impact implementation has had on reading attitudes and achievement.
Focusing assessment on English and maths proficiency
The Boulevard Academy, Kingston, Humberside
The Boulevard Academy have used Star Assessments for reading and maths as their primary means of assessing progress and attainment since the school opened in 2013. The school focuses heavily on literacy and numeracy, with their main goal in KS3 being for all students to achieve proficiency in these areas in preparation for the GCSE curriculum. Chris Navier and Adele Elliott share how Star enables the school to do this.