Implementing Effective Literacy Initiatives in the Secondary School

Concerns about literacy are currently high on the political agenda in the UK. With the National Literacy Strategy now in place in primary schools, attention is being focused upon how pupils in secondary schools can be supported in continuing to develop their literacy skills. In this article we will briefly consider the current state of literacy within secondary schools and the different curriculum elements that need to be part of a secondary literacy initiative. We examine the key factors, identified through research and good practice, which will influence the successful implementation of a literacy strategy within secondary schools and indicate how such factors might translate into effective practice within schools and classrooms.