Leading literacy in Secondary schools

This CPD course for senior leaders and teachers will help delegates understand the challenges inherent in leading literacy and provide a suite of strategies for improving the literacy of every student.

Delegates will consider:

  • What literacy is, why it is important and why ‘literacy across the curriculum’ initiatives often fail
  • The causes that underlie reading difficulty and how to ensure that every child leaves school able to read
  • How to improve the accuracy and creativity of students’ writing and understand the role of speech in achieving this aim
  • How to get children to read not just for pleasure, but for betterment.

Session I : The importance of literacy

This session will:

  • Introduce the concept of the Matthew Effect to explain why ‘closing the gap’ is hard
  • Critically evaluate what doesn’t work
  • Explain how a focus on ‘making the implicit explicit’ helps all students to achieve
  • Suggest an approach to leading literacy that is subject specific rather than whole school.
  • Session 2 : What every teacher needs to know about reading

This session will:

  • Explore and debunk the ‘deficit model’ of reading difficulty
  • Explain why reading fluency is the biggest hidden factor underpinning reading difficulty
  • Suggest practical support for classroom teachers
  • Lay out a whole school approach to ensuring no child leaves school unable to read
  • Present a practical approach to ‘reading for pleasure’.

Session 3 : Getting writing right

This session will:

  • Explain why writing more does not lead to writing better
  • Present a practical approach to improving students’ (and teachers’) grammar
  • Explore how students’ writing can be made more creative and more analytical
  • Demonstrate how speech underpins fluent academic writing.

Presenter Profile

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David Didau has been a teacher for 15 years, and has run two English departments, as well as being an Assistant Head. He is an Associate of Independent Thinking and is renowned for his practical approach and commitment to sound pedagogy. His blog, The Learning Spy, is one of the most influential education blogs in the world. He is the author of ‘The Perfect English (Ofsted) Lesson’ and ‘The Secret of Literacy: making the implicit explicit’ as well as being a regular columnist with Teach Secondary magazine.

Feedback from teachers on David’s course

I want another day! What I need is to use all of this and share with my dept. as it is honest, thoughtful and really focused. Genuinely the best CPD I’ve ever been to – thank you.
Really helpful and interesting with practical ideas. “Gentle delivery”.
Thank you very much. I have many practical/concrete ideas (as well as the rationale behind them) to take away. They will help my students in the ways that matter most! I would highly recommend this course!
A superb course and extremely beneficial. Thank you.
Invigorating! Also useful to transfer to History of Art –very relevant, because of high levels of literacy required. An excellent course that has inspired me to try to make changes in my lessons and in my school!
A super thought-provoking day. David Didau was engaging and knowledgeable and I am leaving with food for thought.
Wonderful day – really informative. Thank you!
David is an engaging presenter and made the day enjoyable and very useful. I gained a lot and will be using ideas and resources in my own department. Thank you!

Cost: £250 per delegate which includes lunch and resources; £299 for 2 teachers from the same school booking on this course

To book your place, please complete the form below:

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