Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, has congratulated Havergal Primary School in Shareshill, after they were named in the 2% of schools for Phonic Screening check results.
The school recently received a letter from Schools Minister, Nick Gibb MP informing them of their results, placing them in the top 2% of results of schools nationally.
Phonics is a way of teaching children to read quickly and skilfully. Each child uses phonics to recognise the sounds that each individual letter makes; identifying the sounds that different combinations of letters make. Children can then use this information to ‘de-code’ new words that they hear or see, helping them on their journey in learning to read.
The Phonics Screening Check helps school and parents understand how well their children use the phonics skills they’ve learned up to the end of Year 1. The school uses a wide range of games and activities to promote a love of reading from a young age.
One of the school’s main aims is for young pupils to develop a firm grasp of phonics as this is a key foundation to future success which is why we are so delighted with the outcome. The results also recognise the rapid journey of improvement the school has been under over the last year, as a new academy sponsored by The Church of England Central Education Trust (CECET).
Since the appointment of a new head teacher, Paul Mitchell, and a governing body, the school has seen an increase in the number of pupils wanting a place and is now one of the most popular schools in the area. Due to the increase in popularity the school has almost reached capacity. With additional funding the school plan to build bigger classrooms to accommodate the increasing number of pupils who wish to attend.
Headmaster Paul Mitchell commented: “Gavin’s support for the school during this journey has been vital in securing the best outcome for all at Havergal. The school would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his hard work and support. One of our main aims is for young pupils to develop a firm grasp of phonics as this is a key foundation to future success which is why we are so delighted with the outcome. We would also like to thank parents for their help in supporting the children’s reading at home.”
On hearing the news Gavin said: “I was absolutely delighted to hear about the fantastic achievement by pupils and teachers from Havergal Primary School. Mastering phonics is vital for a child’s early development and it is clear that the hard work of teachers and parents has paid off. The school is a great example of what can be achieved and the staff should be incredibly proud of this brilliant result.”