Supporting School Improvement – Case Study
School Snapshot
Location: Norfolk, NOR 479, 12.7% of the students are eligible for free school meals.
Ofsted: Good (June 2024)
Previous inspection: Outstanding (2018)
Challenge
To improve the attainment of disadvantaged students in reading
Timescale
Academic Year 23/24
Solution
VNET worked alongside the reading leaders throughout the year to strengthen the reading offer for all pupils. Early on it was identified that the missing element was explicit fluency instruction.
Strategies:
Outcomes
The data demonstrates that over an 8-week cycle, the average gains in comprehension for the school’s pupil premium pupils are four years.
These average gains in comprehension have been replicated for pupil premium pupils in years 3-6.
In the summer of 2024, the school achieved its highest percentage of pupil premium pupils who achieved the expected standard in reading 89% met the expected standard for reading. </strong?
Benefits
The change in practice means that readers at Ashleigh Primary School encounter more words in a shorter time, giving all pupils more opportunities to learn new vocabulary in context.
As a result of this change in practice, reading for progress across the broader curriculum facilitates a greater understanding of knowledge and a strong foundation for future learning.
Fluent readers enable pupils to engage with more advanced and challenging texts as they progress through school.
Testimonial
“The work led by VNET on our reading offer with VNET has been transformational. The fluency training has underpinned all the work. This work has been an important factor in improving outcomes for our pupil premium students.” John McConnell Headteacher, Ashleigh Primary School and Nursery
