Literacy & numeracy

Strong literacy and numeracy skills are essential for every young person, underpinning success across the curriculum and preparing pupils for life beyond school. Our senior phase literacy and numeracy attainment is consistently above that of our comparator schools across almost all levels and stages. We maintain a whole school overview of pupils’ progress and regularly review each young person’s developing literacy and numeracy skills. This careful monitoring allows us to identify early any pupils who may be at risk of leaving without an award or who are not fully engaging, ensuring appropriate support. Through this approach, we work towards our aim that every pupil leaves school with a recognised qualification in both literacy and numeracy.

Literacy

Use of a range of strategies in literacy has supported increase in attainment for pupils. This includes a bespoke literacy specific programme run for S1 and S2 pupils, a paired reading programme in S1 with S6 buddies, one to one individual targeted support for any pupils struggling with attendance, carefully planned smaller sets for identified pupils from first year through to fourth year as well as to build and sustain a whole school reading culture. We are also exploring use of a Corrective Reading program with a select group of S1 and S2 pupils.

Numeracy

A range of targeted strategies has helped raise numeracy attainment for all young people. This includes a bespoke numeracy improvement programme for S1/2, the use of Direct Instruction techniques for specifically identified pupils—resulting in consistent increases in numeracy age—and a carefully structured Maths pathway that provides opportunities for every pupil to achieve the highest possible numeracy award. As well as this, targeted one-to-one interventions, both in school and off-site, support pupils who struggle to attend school or classes.

Thurso High School
Ormlie Road, Thurso, Caithness, KW14 7DS

Statutory info

01847 893822
thurso.high@highland.gov.uk

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