Whole Education ‘Words For All’ launch – What you said

Last week, Whole Education launched our ‘Words for all’ programme, co-constructed with leaders in Bolton over a multi-year pilot. This collaborative approach builds local capacity, expertise and solutions to close the vocabulary gap which is so crucial in enabling all young people to access a whole education. 

Reflecting on the launch, Whole Education Director of Secondaries Lisa Ling said “I was delighted with the launch of the national Words For All project. It was wonderful to present details of the project, introduce some of the key reasons why we are all committed to improving young people’s vocabulary, reading and oracy, and to end on such an inspirational session by Mary Myatt – detailing some very practical ways in which we can support language acquisition and the impact we can have.”

The day was well received, and shared some of the success stories from the Bolton pilot. Lisa said “We were all overjoyed with your feedback and especially the reinforcement of one of our key design principles – build on what is good and trust in the profession to know what is right for young people in our schools and context. Undoubtedly, our partnership with GL Assessment and your use of NGRT will help you to dig deeper into the needs of the students and contribute to signposting the very best approaches to support improvements.”

“As Mary said, ‘Collaboration Powers Up Learning’ and we certainly look forward to collaborating and working alongside you this year.”

What participants said:

“We like the idea that it should be built on something that we’re already doing successfully and not necessarily adding on a new initiative.”

“The idea that vulnerable children’s aspirations are slowly knocked out of them as they progress through school – really sad but so true. We need to do so much more to capture their talents and inspire their aspiration and instil in them the knowledge that they CAN achieve.”

“We are delighted by the value and importance Mary places on wider reading right across the curriculum. This has inspired and shaped what our project might look like. Thank you.”

“I think sometimes we are so focused on making things simplified and accessible, it is really refreshing to be reminded about how important it is to be more ambitious and the value of offering more challenging material.”

“Mary you are an amazing speaker – so inspiring! I have couldn’t agree more with your points. I use the analogy of oracy as the button or zipper on the tapestry of curriculum and literacy that allows young people to wear their knowledge with pride and confidence. Academic language characterises the voices of the powerful in their spoken form as well as any other – I am so grateful to you and Whole Education – great session :-)”

“We love the idea that we shouldn’t be afraid to set challenging work and that chat is as if not more valid than writing.”

“A really comprehensive start to the project; lovely balance between practical and factual and inspirational and motivational. Many thanks”

“Significant takeaways – teaching concepts through stories – love this! Also the immoral nature of only allowing more-able children to access the more exciting, high levels of challenge.”

“3 takeaway things – 1 – the reading aloud for 12 weeks back to back, easy to adapt and implement, 2, screening for dyslexia and 3 ensuring high challenge texts for all”

“As you’ve said, it has been good today to lift my head up from the daily slog that is Covid to look at something with a longer term and grander ambition.”

And now…

Download the slides from 3 of the schools in Bolton’s ‘Words for all’ pilot >

Read Lisa’s thinkpiece on why Whole Education believed there was a need for ‘words for all’ > 

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