UKLA is delighted to announce that this year’s winner of the UKLA Literacy School of the Year Award, sponsored by Hays Education, is Sharples School, Bolton.
What was particularly special about Sharples way that the whole school had worked together to promote its approach to literacy and oracy across the curriculum. It was clear to the judges that all staff had ‘bought-in’ to the literacy-forward approach to teaching that the school took. From looking at the etymology of key words during lessons in all core subjects, to the tri-weekly form tutoring that all year 7-9 students take part in, literacy was clearly present at all levels of teaching at the school.
This was further supported by the clearly well-loved school library. Not only do staff go the extra mile in providing overnight library lock-ins for some lucky students, but they also support visits to Bolton library and to the local Waterstone’s branch. The judges were also able to observe how the library is so integral to the students that a ‘pop-up’ library was created for use during the exam period when the comforting space of the library is being used as an exam room for more vulnerable students.
What was most impressive about the school, though, was the students body: Sharples students clearly benefit from and buy into the school’s values. From the tremendously confident and enthusiastic student guides, the young people enjoying the library quiz at lunch time, and the contributors to the student led and edited Sharples Spotlight, they all clearly showed us how they had benefitted from the school’s literacy policy. Along with the Student Affairs Committee and the Junior Leadership Team, it was clear to us that the students of Sharples School are lucky to attend such a caring and joyful school.
Congratulations go also to Lyng Hall School, Coventry, as the other school on this year’s Roll of Honour. The judges felt that of particular note was the English curriculum, which is rooted in research about writing and vocabulary development and has been designed specifically to meet the needs of the students and to prepare them, not just for the world they are growing up in, but to leave school with the passion, confidence, belief and skills to make a difference.
The judges were also impressed by the extensive provisions made for the students for whom English is not a first language. The panel were delighted to meet students from all year groups who spoke confidently to us and who were proud to celebrate their home languages. In the TEFL unit, we were delighted to see the opportunities offered to students to perform in both English and their own languages, and how their parents and community members were invited to share their success.
It was clear that both schools placed a special importance on the teaching of literacy, and the need to embed it across the curriculum. The students of both made it clear that the efforts of the schools were paying off, demonstrating how exciting and empowering literacy education can be for young people. We would like to thank our sponsors, Hays Education, for their generosity in continuing to support the UKLA Literacy School of the Year Award.