Page 11 - The East Sussex Way

Case Study 1: Creating ‘Talk-rich’ Learning in all Subjects

• Polegate School, East Sussex, is a primary school with years
Nursery – Year 6 and 618 pupils on roll.
• The number of pupils in receipt of the pupil premium grant is
higher than the national average.
• The school performs above the national dataset and LA

dataset when analysing for combined reading, writing and
mathematics:

Pupils achieving at a higher standard in Pupils meeting expected standards in
reading, writing and maths reading, writing and maths

School 87% School 17%

Local authority 63% Local authority 8%
average average
England average 65% England average 11%

(UK Government, 2019)

• The school received a judgement of outstanding from Ofsted
in 2020 and has been expanding into a three form-entry
school.

The context

Despite the school’s excellent results and progress in reading, writing
and mathematics, feedback from local secondary schools raised
awareness that pupils were arriving in Year 7 with inconsistent levels
of vocabulary, different skills and conÞ dence in speaking and
listening, plus variable ability to articulate answers in verbal and
written answers across all subjects.

We wanted to ensure that, by the time our pupils left Year 6, they
were secondary-ready and conÞ dent at speaking. We also wanted
them to have an enriched, robust vocabulary knowledge which they
could use effectively in oracy activities as well as writing.

Action taken

Since 2019, we have embedded robust vocabulary, including tier 2
and tier 3 words (Beck, McKeown, & Kucan, 2002). This applies across
all lessons and allows us to emphasise speciÞ c subject terminology.

We developed a ‘talk-rich’ approach to teaching in all subjects
with the emphasis on talking to discover, explore and communicate
Þ ndings and ideas. This supports subject knowledge and deepens
understanding. Over a number of years, this has been strengthened
across the school and is increasingly seen in all subjects. Rich
discussion with an emphasis on talk is an important tool to develop
understanding. 6