The Literacy Team seek to develop and foster practice through an integrated approach, which will enable all young people to acheive their potential. 

At Bedford Academy we want every student to succeed. We are here to ensure that nobody is left behind by offering a skills based curriculum where pupils are challenged to think for themselves. We understand that we have to raise aspirations and we do this by encouraging a range of exciting and different learning experiences.

When students arrive at the school they complete a computerised reading test, which generates their reading age. They also sit the reading and writing SATs: all of this data is then analysed before students are set into classes. We believe that everyone should be challenged, but we also want to ensure that adequate support is given. We identify any difficulties with literacy quickly and address this by giving students literacy lessons instead of an additional language.

Literacy Across the Curriculum Magazine.pdf

This year we are challenging the way students think about global issues. All of the PSHE and Citizenship outcomes are built into our planning and will be covered in lessons, alongside the literacy objectives. We feel that this approach encourages critical thinking. Our curriculum model is based on an innovative design developed in America. Instead of short six week terms, each unit of work spans over the academic term. Our first project is based on the question 'What is, and how do we resolve, conflict?' Not only will students work on basic comprehension skills, they will also study the novel The Knife of Never Letting Go by award-winning author Patrick Ness. Students will also work collaboratively together on an animation project, which will help to hone their speaking and listening skills, leadership qualities and development of creative storytelling. Look at our long-term curriculum plan by clicking on the link below:

Literacy Framework 2011-2012

Last term, in anticipation of our new Literacy classes, students helped Miss Creighton create a 'Flanimals' encylopedia. As many of you will know, Ricky Gervais coined the term for some imaginatively created creatures. The focus of this work was to analyse non-fiction reference books. Students then wrote down the conventions before making their own creatures from plasticine. They used their knowledge of non-fiction reference texts to then write about their creatures, which was then made into a reference book for other students to use. Click on the link to see a page from our encylopeadia: Maramas

Grammar teaching and writing skills-research by the Dept. of Phonetics and Linguistics

'Secret to knocking grammar for six'-first published in TES 9.11.11

Facts about the teaching of grammar