Here at Bedford High School we know that literacy is a key life skill, and we understand that young people who leave school without good literacy skills are held back at every stage in life. Students without the necessary literacy skills face a poorer life on almost every measure, from health and well-being, to employment and finance. Therefore, our school is committed to ensuring that every Bedford student leaves our school with the ability to read, write, speak, and listen well. This will enable them to thrive in the ever changing world in which we live.
Why is Literacy So Important?
Recent research shows that there are nine million adults in the UK who are functionally illiterate.
What does functionally illiterate mean?
- Quite simply, an adult with a reading age of 11 or below. It means someone who would be unable to read and understand the words written on this page.
- Books, newspapers, email, the internet, forms, road signs, bank accounts, instruction leaflets, written instructions, directions – are all beyond their reach. This inability to function in a text-rich world can lead many adults to become socially isolated and lack self-esteem. Their poor literacy skills create a sense of shame and secrecy – it’s a life-long disability.
Research from the National Literacy Trust shows that poor literacy skills affects a person throughout their life:
- As a child they won’t be able to succeed at school, resulting in low self-esteem and withdrawal from education.
- As a young adult they will be locked out of the job market.
- And, as a parent they won’t be able to support their children’s learning.
This intergenerational cycle makes social mobility more difficult and reinforces a cycle of illiteracy.
At Bedford High School, our aim is to break this cycle and we can achieve this with our Learning Vision:
Our goal is to develop world class learners who are adaptable and can thrive in a rapidly changing and unpredictable world.
Our intention is to create an excellent climate for effective learning where hard work and self-discipline are valued and rewarded. Inspirational teaching, learning and assessment ensure that students are motivated to progress on their journey of learning and discovery.
It is our mission to achieve our Learning Vision by having a relentless focus on providing outstanding teaching and developing outstanding learners. This will be underpinned by rigorous assessment that supports our learners to excel in their achievements.