On the road to recovery

Christ the Redeemer Primary School, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Christ the Redeemer School have been using Renaissance solutions for over a decade. In the midst of a global pandemic with schools across Northern Ireland being forced to partially close their doors to pupils, the school continue to maintain high levels of reading engagement and staff have managed to avoid seeing too big of a drop in learning based on recent assessment data. The school even faced an inspection at the halfway point of the pandemic and were still able to produce an accurate and detailed analysis of their pupils' progress and subsequent teaching strategies to support those who had dropped off in both reading and mathematics.

Talking Points: Assessment, Attainment, Celebration, Comprehension, Data, Data Review, Incentives, Independent Reading, Intervention, Motivation, Parents, Progress, Progress Monitoring, Pupil Progress, Reading Age, Reading At Home, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, Staff Engagement, Staff Workload, Student Engagement, Target Setting, Whole-School Literacy

Quantifying Reading Success

GEMS FirstPoint, Dubai, UAE

We spoke to the Head of English at GEMS FirstPoint School, Dubai, about how Renaissance solutions maintain high levels of reading engagement and proficiency for all pupils.

Talking Points: Assessment, Data, Data Review, Incentives, Independent Reading, Intervention, Library Use, Motivation, Parents, Progress Monitoring, Reading Culture, Staff Engagement, Whole-School Literacy, Word Millionaires

A New Strategy To Get Students’ Reading Back On Track

The Long Eaton School, Derbyshire

The Long Eaton School have been successfully utilising Accelerated Reader and Star Reading since 2013. In August 2020, new Qualified Teacher Librarian Althea Briers joined the school when engaging students with reading for pleasure and developing reading proficiency was more crucial than ever.
Due to school part-closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Althea and her colleagues had the challenging task of refamilalrising and reintegrating students with a library system that makes reading accessible and part of students daily lives once again. 

Talking Points: Assessment, Celebration, Data, Data Review, Incentives, Independent Reading, Intervention, Library Use, Motivation, Ofsted, Parents, Progress Monitoring, Pupil Progress, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, Staff Engagement, Staff Workload, Student Engagement, Whole-School Literacy

Why Choose Star Maths

St Comgalls Primary School, County Antrim

Renaissance Learning's Curriculum and Education Specialist, Margaret Allen, speaks to Teacher and  School Improvement Leader Catherine Magee.

Talking Points: Assessment, Data Review, Intervention, Motivation, Parents, Progress Monitoring, Pupil Progress, Staff Workload, Student Engagement, Target Setting

The International School with the Complete Literacy Solution

Rashid School for Boys Secondary Section, Dubai, UAE

Talking Points: Assessment, Celebration, Data, Data Review, Incentives, Independent Reading, Intervention, Library Use, Motivation, Parents, Progress Monitoring, Pupil Progress, Reading Age, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, Staff Engagement, Staff Workload

How we changed attitudes towards reading with the Complete Literacy Solution from Renaissance

Boothferry Primary School, East Riding of Yorkshire

In 2017, Accelerated Reader and Star Reading was brought in to support the school's literacy strategy and promote more positive attitudes towards reading. In February 2019, the school received a 'Good' Ofsted inspection report, with specific recognition of the school's teaching of reading:

"The teaching of reading is a strength of the school. Teachers provide high-quality support for pupils to develop their reading comprehension. Pupils confidently talk about their whole-school reading challenge, which motivates them to gain rewards for reading regularly."

Talking Points: Assessment, Celebration, Data, Data Review, Incentives, Independent Reading, Intervention, Library Use, Motivation, Ofsted, Parents, Progress Monitoring, Pupil Premium, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure

A noticeable new reading culture

Dunstone Primary School, Plymouth

We spoke to Teaching Assistant (TA), Sally Geary, who has been with the school for twelve years. Sally was only recently appointed the primary contact for Accelerated Reader since January 2019. With the help of a team of dedicated TAs, Sally oversees the daily maintenance and effective administration of the Accelerated Reader and Star Reading programmes. The team have one goal, to help nurture a love of reading for all pupils. 

Talking Points: Assessment, Celebration, Data, Data Review, Incentives, Intervention, Library Use, Motivation, Parents, Progress, Progress Monitoring, Pupil Progress, Reading Age, Reading At Home, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, SATs, Student Engagement, Target Setting, Whole-School Literacy

The Merseyside primary school with the complete literacy solution

Prescot Primary School, Merseyside

Prescot Primary School can be found in Knowsley, Merseyside, the second-poorest local authority in the country. Their percentage of EAL students is very low at only 5.7%, but they were still seeing low reading scores in their students.Since implementing Accelerated Reader in 2016, and later adding myON, they've been doing some awesome things. We spoke to Steve George, the headteacher, as well as Dawn Molloy, the school librarian, to find out what it is about the Renaissance literacy solution that works so well.

Talking Points: Assessment, Book Stock, Celebration, Diversity, Equality, Independent Reading, Parents, Reading At Home, Reading Culture, Staff Workload, Whole-School Literacy

Reading ages, pupil wellbeing and exam readiness: setting our pupils up for life

Glenrothes High School, Fife

From improving reading ages, an increased focus on pupils' mental wellbeing, and increased confidence and readiness for exams, Graeme Keir shares the impact that Accelerated Reader has had on his school.

Talking Points: Attainment, Attainment Gap, Book Stock, Data, GCSE Preparation, Library Use, Mental Wellbeing, Motivation, Parents, Reading Age

Using Accelerated Reader to empower reluctant readers

Thorpedene Primary School, Shoeburyness

Thorpedene Primary School is a large primary school in Shoeburyness, Essex. We spoke to two of their members of staff about how the programme has impacted on their students and supported their vision of creating a culture of reading for pleasure.

Talking Points: Celebration, Customer Service, Incentives, Intervention, National Expectations, Parents, Pupil Progress, Reading At Home, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, Reluctant Readers, SEN