News, Politics

Government’s ‘obsession’ with phonics is driven by need to help working-class white boys

The underperformance of white working-class boys in England’s education system is what has driven the government’s “obsession” with reading...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Phonics check 2018 pass mark announced

The pass mark for the phonics screening check will remain at 32 this year, the Department for Education has...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Opinion

The reception year isn’t all about learning to read

The UK’s dogmatic approach to teaching reading does a disservice to the different ways and speeds at which young...

Expert Contributor
Expert Contributor
Opinion

Nick Gibb is wrong: PIRLS data does not support synthetic phonics

The schools minister is looking at the results of a major international reading test wrong, and his dogmatic insistence...

Expert Contributor
Expert Contributor
News

Schools are streaming the youngest children by phonics ability

Schools are using phonics to divide primary classes into ability streams – and pupils born in summer are paying...

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

FSM pupils falling away in phonics

The achievement gap in phonics has grown between pupils qualifying for free school meals and their wealthier peers, government...

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Phonics boosts reading accuracy, study finds

Phonics has a “dramatic impact” on the accuracy of reading aloud and comprehension, researchers have claimed. A study, published...

John Dickens
John Dickens
News

Government abandons year 3 phonics check after trial prompts workload concerns

The government will not extend its phonics screening check re-takes to year three pupils after a trial run prompted concerns...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Phonics check needs rethink after data shows ‘something dodgy’

The government’s phonics screening check needs an “urgent rethink” after new figures show “something dodgy” with scores, a policy...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker