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Welsh schools still face 'challenge' in improving literacy

The schools watchdog Estyn is warning improving reading and writing at secondary schools 'remains a challenge'.

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Welsh Government: 'Still much to do' to improve literacy

The Welsh Government says a report by the education watchdog shows there's "still much to do" in the way of improving literacy in secondary schools.

The Welsh Government says there's still much to do to improve literacy skills in schools Credit: PA

It comes after Estyn found many schools face challenges in improving reading and writing among 11 to 15-year-olds.

The Welsh Government made the development of literacy skills a key priority in 2013 after a previous Estyn report found many pupils were starting secondary school without basic literacy and numeracy skills.

It introduced a framework in 2012 to get both key areas taught in other subjects across the curriculum.

Developing the literacy skills of our young people remains a critical issue for Welsh education and a key government priority. This second report from Estyn does identify progress in many areas. It shows improved planning and whole school approaches to marking, and demonstrates that standards in English and Welsh continue to improve. We very much welcome this. However the report is also a timely reminder that there is still much to do.

We should bear in mind that it is still early days in the implementation of key policies such as the Literacy and Numeracy Framework (LNF) and that schools only started assessing learner progress against the LNF in September. As clearly set out in the Literacy and Numeracy Framework, the development of literacy needs to be addressed across all subject areas within schools and the Minister is continuing to call on schools to adopt and embed whole-school approaches to literacy.

– Welsh Government spokesperson

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