Students are selected for Literacy and/or Numeracy intervention sessions as one of their options subjects. The programme of study aims to build the skills and confidence needed to achieve to the best of their ability in their exam subjects.

Currently, selected students from Year 7, 8 and 9 are part of these sessions.

Students in Year 7 and 8 are able to graduate out when they have gained and consistently demonstrate the necessary skills.

Some Year 9 students have the option to select these subjects for the year before their final exam selections take place.

Literacy - The main focus for Literacy sessions is reading. We work through fluency and comprehension skills with the aim to improve the reading age of all students. Vocabulary, retrieval, inference, summarising and prediction are the core skills we look at within the sessions. These skills are transferable so can be applied to all subjects supporting development across the curriculum. Students will need to read 200 words per minute fluently to access the GCSE curriculum so this highlights the importance of embedding these skills.

Numeracy – Year 7 and 8 students, numeracy is essential for filling and strengthening educational gaps. At this stage, it is crucial to create a positive and engaging maths-rich environment that motivates students to see the relevance of mathematics in their everyday lives. This can be achieved through a variety of strategies, including using visual and concrete manipulatives.

Encouraging problem-solving is a vital aspect of numeracy. By presenting students with challenging, real-life problems to solve, this can foster critical thinking and resilience. This approach not only enhances their mathematical skills but also equips them with the ability to approach complex challenges in a structured way.

Moving into Year 9, students begin to build a bridge between Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4, which is crucial as they prepare for the demands of GCSE mathematics. Utilising the Focus 15 curriculum helps deepen their understanding of key concepts and principles. This curriculum emphasises the fundamental aspects of mathematics, allowing students to develop a solid foundation in both knowledge and reasoning.

By concentrating on these core areas, Year 9 students are better equipped to tackle the complexities of the GCSE syllabus. The emphasis on reasoning encourages them to articulate their thought processes and develop a deeper comprehension of mathematical concepts. Through this progression, students not only enhance their numeracy skills but also cultivate a more profound appreciation for mathematics as a critical tool for problem-solving and decision-making in their academic and personal lives.

Both Literacy and Numeracy sessions are aimed to develop key skills to support learning across the curriculum and improve the confidence of all students.