Melksham Oak plan to improve literacy standards

MELKSHAM Oak School is taking action to improve literacy levels for its year 7 students.

The school has introduced a number of initiatives to support students transitioning from primary education into secondary education with a ‘lower-than-average’ competency in literacy.

Initiatives include working with a voluntary readers project, which offers one-to -one reading practice for students; and the introduction of the Melksham Oak journalism club, which encourages writing practice.

Currently, the average reading ability of year 7 students starting school is ‘significantly below’ the national average, whilst the average writing ability is ‘below’ the national average.

This is according to information shared by the school’s principal, Alan Henderson, at last month’s full town council meeting, where he also said that only 58% of year 7 students start the school year ‘secondary ready’ according to the national benchmark.

In a statement to Melksham News, principal Alan Henderson said, “A skill and passion for literacy is fundamental to all learning. Not only does literacy empower children to succeed, but it also facilitates their development in all facets of their education. That’s why, at Melksham Oak Community School, literacy is at the forefront of our thinking — especially when it comes to our year 7 students.

“The first year of a child’s time at secondary school is an important step in their development, but adapting to secondary education and teaching can be a challenge. To make the adjustment from primary to secondary education easier for our students, in particular those with lower-than-average competency in literacy, we have implemented a series of initiatives as part of our transition project.

“One important part of our focus on creating a smooth primary-secondary transition in literacy is the voluntary readers project. Year 7 students who have arrived at our school with lower-than-average ability in literacy are placed with volunteers to engage in one-to-one reading practice. This project has been rolled out at schools throughout the country and proven to be extremely effective in raising the standard of literacy among children who have fallen behind the national average.

“Another new initiative we have launched as part of the transition project is the Melksham Oak journalism club, where our year 7 students are coached and mentored by qualified journalists. Attending the club gives students invaluable writing practice, as well as helping them develop other important transferable skills. Although in its infancy, the project has already been well supported by our sixth form community representatives and local newspapers, who have agreed to send journalists to work with students. The stories produced by members of the journalism club are posted on the school website, which is a great source of pride for each writer.

“We are supported in our commitment to improving literacy standards by The White Horse Federation multi-academy trust. Melksham Oak is working closely with the federation team to develop new and innovative strategies that make a real difference to children throughout Melksham and have a positive long-term impact on literacy standards in the area.”

Work is also being done in Melksham’s primary schools by the White Horse Federation –  the multi-academy trust, which manages Melksham Oak and seven local primary schools – to improve standards of literacy and to ensure more of Melksham students finish primary school ‘secondary ready’.

A spokesperson from the White Horse Federation said, “The White Horse Federation is doing its own initiatives, as well as linking with organisations like School Readers to encourage volunteers to support Melksham Oak’s feeder primary schools. This will help with the transition between primary and secondary. 

“Melksham Oak is always looking for volunteers to support student readers and related projects like the journalism club. And principal Alan Henderson would love a high profile author to inspire students to read more. If anyone is interested in supporting student readers they can register their interest at www.melkshamoak.wilts. sch.uk.”