Helen Ward · Nick Gibb · Sue Palmer · TES

Heads’ nervousness increases as phonics check looms

As June approaches and more heads across the country realise that, in a little over two months, their Year 1 pupils will be sitting the government’s new phonics screening check, the level of panic is beginning to rise. Yesterday’s TES (‘Heads read the riot act over new phonics test’) was reporting that some heads are… Continue reading Heads’ nervousness increases as phonics check looms

Ofsted · Sounds-Write

What is wrong with the culture within Ofsted?

I have twice now visited schools which have had Ofsted inspections. Both praised the schools’approach to teaching children to read and spell. Here is an extract from the latest: “Good progress in reading continues across the school, the result of the consistent approach in teaching daily phonics sessions, and older pupils demonstrate increasingly accurate spelling… Continue reading What is wrong with the culture within Ofsted?

'Moving English forward' · Ofsted · phonics · training.

That Ofsted report – ‘Moving English forward’

In large part this new report has been motivated by the need to respond to a growing tide of complaints from employers’ organisations and from higher education institutions about the standards of literacy of school leavers. There is also a growing awareness that, in the globalised world in which this country operates, other countries have… Continue reading That Ofsted report – ‘Moving English forward’

phonics teaching · Sir Michael Wilshaw · Sounds-Write

Teachers need proper training to teach phonics, says Michael Wilshaw

Since 1995, standards in literacy have stalled, says Michael Wilshaw. He claims that one in five children in primary schools have such low standards of literacy that they can’t access the secondary curriculum when they make the transition. So, what’s going wrong? Michael Wilshaw is in no doubt. The training that many teachers have been… Continue reading Teachers need proper training to teach phonics, says Michael Wilshaw

Uncategorized

Hey Phoebe, leave those phonics teachers alone!

In a piece supoosedly arguing ‘against a phonics versus books stand-off’, yesterday’s Guardian gave space again for Phoebe Doyle, described on their pages as a former primary teacher who now writes on education, parenting and health issues’, to bellyache about how phonics is being used in school. She had previously written ‘Boy-friendly practice is just… Continue reading Hey Phoebe, leave those phonics teachers alone!