The UK Literacy Association is proud to announce the 2013 recipient of our new award for schools. Victoria Junior School, Workington, Cumbria is the 2013 Literacy School of the Year: A school where literacy thrivesUKLA is a registered charity, which has as its sole object the advancement of education in literacy and is committed to promoting good practice nationally and internationally. UKLA President Alayne Öztürk said “We hope that this award will soon become an aspirational and recognised kite mark of excellence for schools”Criteria have been formulated which reflect the wealth of international research into and experience of good literacy practices. Any UKLA member can nominate a school which they believe to be worthy of the award and independent assessors will visit the school in question to see their practice in action.Victoria Junior School is a large Junior School on the west coast of Cumbria. The school has worked year on year to raise standards in all areas of literacy. Creating an innovative environment for learning has been a priority of the school since 2010. Developing an “Outstanding Reading Culture” has been achieved through innovative use of ipads, promoting blogging and online reading along with an increased use of newspapers and skilfully using the “power of reading” strategies to promote a love of literature. Allowing children to explore the world of “stories” guides them to places in which imagination can grow, aspirations can be raised and self-confidence enables them to explore the potential of the world around them. Outstanding progress in reading and writing has resulted in the school receiving a letter from the Minister of State for Schools congratulating the staff on the excellent performance of all pupils which placed the school in the top 250 in the country and for providing exceptional effective education in particular for their disadvantaged pupils.The assessors were most impressed by the way that literacy is placed at the heart of the school and children and visitors are immersed in literacy as soon as they enter. All staff are passionate and enthusiastic and committed to driving forward the school’s vision for literacy. Children blog about their interests and communicate with a global audience as well as with the wider school community. They are engaged and motivated in lessons and speak enthusiastically about their learning in literacy. The main library area is an impressive, well used and attractive area. Reading for pleasure is encouraged and expected and evidenced from creative responses displayed throughout the school. It is evident that this school is constantly reflecting and working out ways to develop and enhance learning experiences for the children – it is a school which, in their own words, never stands still!UKLA has invited Headteacher, Pauline Robertson and her team to present a seminar to share their good practice at the UKLA International Conference in 2014, when they will also receive their Award.For further information please contact Brenda Eastwood: UKLA General Manager on admin@ukla.org / 0116 2231664.
