Whole School Literacy Leadership
Section outline
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Understanding of whole school literacy has changed remarkably over recent years. Schools are focusing much more strategically on disciplinary literacy and the explicit teaching of the reading, writing and oracy within each subject, and understanding that the responsibility for setting and achieving high standards of literacy rests with all teachers, not just with the English department.
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The DfE has released (April 2025) a series of training videos for use in secondary schools, explaining aspects of reading across the range of subjects. These videos clearly set out the key issues relating to reading in bitesize chunks of information and are suitable for use as an element of CPD meetings or for self-study.
Supporting all readers in secondary school - GOV.UK
In this section, you will find short sequences of slides used in previous HIAS training that literacy leaders can use to expand on ideas found in the videos as part of in-school CPD sessions. If you are interested in advice or bespoke training in any of these areas, please contact Joanna.Kenyon@hants.gov.uk.Linked to DfE video 2: What is reading?
Linked to DfE video 3: Reading in secondary students
- The challenge jump between primary and secondary - PowerPoint slides
- The challenge jump between primary and secondary - pdf
- Building a positive and rich reading culture - PowerPoint slides
- Building a positive and rich reading culture - pdf
Linked to DfE video 4: Choosing curriculum texts
- How to work out the readability of a text - PowerPoint slides
- How to work out the readability of a text - pdf
- What makes a text more or less challenging? - PowerPoint slides
- What makes a text more or less challenging? - pdf
Linked to DfE video 5: Identifying text features
- Familiarising pupils with features of a text type - PowerPoint slides
- Familiarising pupils with features of a text type - pdf
Linked to DfE video 6: Exploring vocabulary
- Tiered vocabulary - PowerPoint slides
- Tiered vocabulary - pdf
- Vocabulary strategies - planned and incidental - PowerPoint slides
- Vocabulary strategies - planned and incidental - pdf
Linked to DfE video 7: Activating Background knowledge
- The importance of background knowledge in reading - PowerPoint slides
- The importance of background knowledge in reading - pdf
Linked to DfE video 8: Teaching reading comprehension
- Reciprocal reading strategies - PowerPoint slides
- Reciprocal reading strategies - pdf
- Further active reading strategies - PowerPoint slides
- Further active reading strategies - pdf
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A key document for literacy and reading leaders, the DfE's updated non-statutory guidance now covers the teaching of reading up to and including Year 9. Strongly recommended.
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Materials in this section can be useful for literacy or whole-school reading leaders and summarise key messages around whole-school reading policy and practice.
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Slides and notes from guidance presentation for literacy leaders with responsibility for developing whole school reading.
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A very simple reminder of a straightforward sequence around reading challenging texts which can be used by teachers of any subject.
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Simple suggestions for creating a culture of reading within school, including reading for pleasure.
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Enormously useful documents focusing on improving whole school literacy are available from the Education Endowment Foundation: these are essential reading for literacy leaders and teachers everywhere. The double-page spread digests can be swiftly and effectively shared with time-poor teachers. It is well worth reading the documents around KS1 and KS2 literacy as well as the KS3-4 documents to see the priorities for developing literacy below secondary level.
EEF Guidance Report - Improving Literacy in Secondary Schools
EEF Guidance Report - Improving Literacy at Key Stage 2
EEF Guidance Report - Improving Literacy at Key Stage 1
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