Key Stage 3 Literacy Project
Literacy is a fundamental skill that shapes pupils’ academic success, personal growth, and future opportunities. It plays a critical role in their progression through school, transition into adulthood, and eventual entry into employment.
The Blackpool Key Stage 3 Literacy Project is a collective impact initiative designed to enhance literacy capabilities among 11-14-year-olds across Blackpool. The program adopts a research-driven, asset-based approach to empower students and create sustainable outcomes for the community.
Why Blackpool?
Blackpool faces significant educational challenges, with the widest disadvantage gap at GCSE level in England. This project seeks to address these disparities and equip students with the literacy skills needed to succeed academically and beyond.
How the programme works
The project is a collaboration between all six mainstream secondary schools, two all-through schools, and the Pupil Referral Unit. Through this collective approach, literacy challenges are identified and addressed at their core.
Key roles and processes include:
- Literacy and Evidence Leads: Appointed within each school and supported by the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO), these leads work with Right to Succeed to assess pupil needs and design evidence-based solutions.
- Tailored Interventions: Solutions are carefully designed based on existing evidence, delivered with close monitoring, and refined through continuous reflection and learning.
- Collaborative Framework: Schools, educators, and community partners come together to create a unified system that ensures literacy improvement across the town.
Child-level outcomes
- 27% increase in pupils achieving the highest levels of reading ability.
- 53% reduction in days lost due to exclusions, compared to a 29% reduction nationally.
Community-level outcomes
85% of teachers reported increased confidence in delivering literacy-focused continuing professional development (CPD).
System-level outcomes
Insights and learnings from Blackpool’s literacy initiatives are shaping the town’s 10-year education strategy, with a focus on three key pillars:
- Literacy
- Inclusion
- Employment and Skills
The Key Stage 3 Literacy Project represents a transformative effort to close the literacy gap and unlock opportunities for students, educators, and the wider Blackpool community.
