Secondary Schools
SUPPORT FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2026-2027
As you may be aware, the English Hub programme has been supporting primary schools with phonics and early reading for a number of years and has recently widened its focus to include supporting children to read fluently through KS2 and KS3.
This year the English Hub programme has been running a pilot nationally working with secondary schools and due to its success, the programme is being extended to include more schools.
The aims of the programme are:
-To support secondary schools to take a whole school approach to reading
-To support secondary schools to improve outcomes for pupils with reading needs
We are currently seeking schools to take part in the programme for next year.
In the first instance, each school will receive an audit from the hub team. This audit will explore the key principles outlined by the DfE in their secondary Challenge Checklist:
- Building a team of experts
- Whole school professional development
- Assessment, identification and progress
- Support and intervention
- Parental involvement
Typically, an audit day would involve spending time with senior leaders and those responsible for reading across the school, observing lessons in different subject areas, discussing data and talking to pupils receiving additional support with reading. Details and logistics will be suited to the setting. The school will then receive a detailed report which will include strategies to address areas for development.
Following the audit, each school can apply for resource funding to help purchase reading materials/programmes, training or reading assessment/diagnostic materials (schools will be encouraged to match fund this).
There is also an opportunity for the school to receive additional support from the English Hub team as appropriate. The focus of this support will be determined by the audit and agreed by all stakeholders.
We are expecting a high demand of requests for audits, so if you are interested, please click on the icon below.
If your school has not yet accessed the DfE-commissioned FFT Unlocking Reading training, I strongly recommend prioritising it. With one in four children entering secondary school below the expected reading standard, and reading for pleasure at an all-time low, this national training is really important. The programme features 10 modules: three tailored for leadership, five for teachers, and 2 for all staff. To maximise its impact, it should be integrated into your formal training schedule. While dedicating a full training day for staff to complete it collectively is ideal, delivering it within departments also fosters invaluable discussion around practical implementation.
All support from the English Hub is funded by the DfE and is free of charge.
