East Renfrewshire Building Bridges case study
PDF file: East Renfrewshire Building Bridges case studySt. Ninian's High School and Our Lady of the Missions Primary
This project was concerned with raising attainment in reading and writing. One of the main aims was to devise core teaching strategies and materials to be deployed across the curriculum to support and develop pupils’ key skills of understanding, analysis and evaluation, all united by the ability to express these in writing.
St Ninian’s High School wished to develop integrated working in writing between the English and history departments. This was particularly relevant as S1/S2 courses were being reviewed due to the implementation of the new NQ framework in S3/S4. Their work centred on developing discursive writing and functional writing in S1 and report writing and critical essay writing in S2. Formative assessment, self-assessment and peer assessment are important features in this project.
The primary school concentrated on developing non-fiction writing in a variety of genres within language lessons. It also sought to improve writing in topic work. Underpinning the study was the David Wray approach to modelling and scaffolding to develop writing. Pupils were encouraged to extend their private reading through the use of a library and the Passport Reading programme.
The methods employed to develop writing were progressively applied. An in-depth study of genre was followed by note taking and planning for writing. Class discussion then gave way to a review of writing plans. Completed writing pieces were positively evaluated by staff. Although at this stage the writer is unable to offer hard data, the anecdotal reports suggested this has been a worthwhile exercise.