Love of reading leads to the top

Pupils and staff at Ashurst Primary School, St Helens have got a lot to shout about after being told their school’s phonics screening results are among the best in England.

The Blackbrook school achieved an impressive pass rate of 97 per cent for the assessment taken by all Year 1 pupils in England to test their ability to read words, which places Ashurst in the top six per cent in the country.

The national figures show that 89 per cent of pupils who achieve the expected standard in the phonics check go on to achieve at least the expected standard in key stage 1 reading teacher assessment.

In recognition of this fine result, the school recently received a letter from the Minister of State Schools and Standards, Nick Gibb MP, who informed them of their success and passed on his congratulations.

Headteacher, Lisa Houghton, and deputy headteacher, Rebecca King said: “We were delighted to receive this letter from Rt Hon Nick Gibb MP congratulating us on our success in the Phonics Screening Check 2018.

“At Ashurst we are committed to ensuring highly effective teaching of phonics and early reading, leading to a life-long love of reading throughout our school.”

St Helens Council’s cabinet member for developing young people, Councillor Joe Pearson said: “Phonics is the most effective method for teaching young children how to read, so for one of our schools to be up there with the best in the country is something we must celebrate as it will influence our next generation to develop a love for reading.

“Well done to all involved in achieving such an outstanding result”.