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

Using Accelerated Reader across our whole trust

St Martin's Multi-Academy Trust, Bilston

St Martin’s Multi Academy Trust is a three-school trust in Bilston, West Midlands. Its academies are all located in areas of high deprivation. Read the story from Christine Ivory, Assistant Headteacher at Grove Primary School, and Ben Davies, Executive Headteacher, about why they chose Accelerated Reader and Star Reading to support reading across the trust.

Talking Points: Assessment, EAL, Intervention, Library Use, Multi-Academy Trust, Pupil Premium, Reading Comprehension, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, SATs

Unlocking the value of Star Assessments

River Beach Primary School, Littlehampton

River Beach Primary School is part of Schoolsworks Academy Trust and is located in Littlehampton, West Sussex. It has one of the largest percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals in the local authority. We spoke to Joe Neale, who was the English lead during the implementation of Accelerated Reader in 2015 and has since gone on to become an assistant headteacher and the lead for English and AR at the school, about the success they've had with Renaissance!

Talking Points: Comprehension, Ofsted, Progress Monitoring, SATs, Staff Workload

“We can make a real difference to their learning.”

Glyn School, Ewell

Glyn School a boys' comprehensive secondary school in Ewell, Surrey, have been using Accelerated Reader for just over a year, and implemented the programme in the summer of 2018 to boost literacy levels across Key Stage 3. We spoke to Caroline Woolridge, the school librarian, and Jade Phillips, the KS3 coordinator, about how the programme has influenced both students and teachers at the school.

Talking Points: Assessment, Behaviour, Boys, Data, GCSE Preparation, Intervention, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, SATs, Staff Engagement, Staff Workload, Value For Money

To be among the top five schools in the country is incredible, and my vision now is to become a beacon to schools in other areas of high deprivation…

Ward Jackson CE Primary School, Hartlepool

Like many schools located in areas with high levels of social deprivation, Ward Jackson CE Primary School in Hartlepool has long been regarded as something of a 'problem child' - facing mutiple challenges with staff turnover, poor pupil performance, high levels of mobility and a 'requires improvement' rating from Ofsted. However, unlike many schools of this type, however, 100% of Year 6 pupils at Ward Jackson achieved expected outcomes in their most recent SATs results and is now ranked among the top five schools in the country for progress in reading...

Talking Points: Assessment, Data, KS1, KS2, Ofsted, Pupil Premium, Pupil Progress, Quizzing, Reading, SATs, SEN, Top Five

Measuring progress: 14 months of reading progress in 10 months!

The Raglan Schools, Enfield

The Raglan Schools is a federation of Raglan Infant and Junior Schools, having approximately 930 children and 120 staff. They have been using Star Reading for five years and recently reported 14 months of reading progress in only 10 months! Head Teacher Martin Kelsey shares his story of discovering and implementing Star Reading Assessments in his school.

Talking Points: Attainment, Independent Reading, Progress Monitoring, Reading Age, Reading Comprehension, Reading for Pleasure, SATs, Standardised Testing

Our search for a reliable assessment brought us to Star Reading

Ivybridge Primary School, Isleworth

Talking Points: Assessment, Attainment, Progress, Progress Monitoring, SATs

Assessment made easy at Manor Leas Junior Academy

by Chelsea Sandbrook, Assistant Head Teacher

Manor Leas Junior Academy is a large Junior (KS2 only) school in Lincoln, aiming to provide pupils with an innovative curriculum to engage them in their learning. They recently became a Master School - an award celebrating best-practices in reading engagement. Chelsea Sandbrook, Assistant Head Teacher at the school, shares her experience of tracking and monitoring pupil progress over the years.

Talking Points: Achievement, Assessment, Data, Data Review, Intervention, Leadership, Progress, Progress Monitoring, Pupil Progress, Reporting, SATs, SEN, Staff Engagement, Staff Workload, Student Engagement

Giving children confidence with SATs preparation

Florence Melly Community Primary School, Liverpool

Florence Melly is a mixed primary school, based in Liverpool, with over 400 pupils on roll. Head Teacher, Ken Heaton and Year 6 Teacher, Nikki Bear, discuss the school’s approach to reading following their implementation of Accelerated Reader in September 2016.

Talking Points: Assessment, Independent Reading, Reading for Pleasure, SATs

Star – An accurate predictor of pupil performance

Herne Bay Junior School, Kent

Acting Deputy Head, Chris Thomas, shares the journey that they’ve been on for the last 18 months – and explains how data is proving to be a valuable tool in helping to find the story behind every child…

Talking Points: Assessment, Assessment without Levels, Data Review, Progress Monitoring, SATs