Improvements in Literacy
In line with education authority policy to improve literacy across the Council, the school had recognised the need to improve standards of pupils' attainment in English language. The school was using West Dunbartonshire writing scheme, Write to the Top, and trying out recent national advice on the development of literacy through the use of text extracts. For example, pupils worked on The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings with confidence. The school's literacy co-ordinator had led a development to ensure that all pupils benefited from very high quality feedback, in particular in relation to literacy. The quality of her feedback, both oral and written, was exemplary.
Very effective teaching strategies for effective learning were embedded in the culture of the school and in most classes active learning was taking place at all times. Pupils knew where they were in their learning and confidently set realistic and accurate targets for next steps in their own learning. Pupils asked questions well as they read texts depending on the focus of the writing which was to follow. For example, if they were to write with the purpose of developing characters, they would be asking questions as they read, such as:
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What type of character is he/ she?
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How do I know?
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What words or phrases are being used in this text to tell me about his/ her character?
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How is he/ she likely to behave?
Teachers interacted very effectively with both individual pupils and with groups of pupils. As a result of the effective teaching, pupils were taking responsibility for their own learning. At all stages, standards of reading, writing, listening and talking were very high and improving.
