As another school year comes to an end, we’ve been taking a moment to reflect on everything we’ve achieved together. Looking back through the data, the feedback from schools and the conversations we’ve had over the past twelve months, one thing stands out above everything else - this has been a year built on collaboration, dedication and a shared commitment to ensuring more children become confident, successful readers. It’s always easy to focus on numbers, and we’ve certainly got plenty to celebrate, but behind every statistic is a teacher who’s gained confidence, a leader who’s strengthened reading across their school and, most importantly, children who now have a better chance of becoming lifelong readers.

This year alone, we completed 67 primary audits and 10 secondary audits, giving us the opportunity to work alongside schools to identify strengths, provide tailored support and help leaders make informed decisions about their next steps. Alongside this, our Literacy Specialists delivered an incredible 228 support days in primary schools and a further 6 days in secondary schools, coaching teachers, modelling practice, analysing data and helping schools embed sustainable improvements.  One statistic that continues to make us incredibly proud is the impact on phonics outcomes. Schools that have worked with us consistently for two years have achieved an average 15% increase in their Phonics Screening Check results. We know that doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of committed school leaders, dedicated teachers, careful use of data, targeted interventions and consistent support over time. Watching schools transform their outcomes and hearing them talk about the confidence they now have in teaching early reading is one of the most rewarding parts of our work.

Professional development has continued to be a huge part of what we do. This year, 226 schools attended our training events, with 100% of delegates rating our CPD as good or better. Looking back, it feels as though we’ve spent much of the year in front of a camera or using a microphone in one way or another! We’ve delivered hours and hours of training, spoken at conferences, trust events and network meetings, and worked with teachers and leaders across our region to share the latest evidence and practical strategies that make a difference in classrooms. Whether we’ve been delivering accredited phonics training, supporting schools with reading fluency, developing Reading for Pleasure or exploring early language, it has been a privilege to work alongside so many dedicated professionals.  One of the highlights of the year has been our Secondary Reading Pilot. It has been fantastic to see secondary colleagues embracing evidence-informed approaches to reading and recognising that literacy really is everyone’s responsibility. The enthusiasm, openness and impact we’ve seen throughout the pilot have been incredibly encouraging, and we’re excited to continue developing this work next year.

This year also gave us the opportunity to celebrate reading in so many different ways. The National Year of Reading provided a wonderful focus for schools to place books, stories and reading for pleasure at the heart of school life. From assemblies and reading events to classroom activities and community engagement, it has been inspiring to see schools creating opportunities for children to develop a genuine love of reading. World Book Day, as always, brought its own special excitement, with schools across our region embracing books, authors and storytelling in creative and memorable ways. Our social media campaign 'Read what you Love' was such a personal highlight of mine as I loved seeing how everyone linked books with their hobbies and passions. 

One thing I've always believed is that education is stronger when schools work together, and that certainly extends to English Hubs. Throughout the year we’ve continued to collaborate with colleagues across the national English Hub network, sharing ideas, learning from one another and supporting each other to continually improve. That collaborative spirit is one of the greatest strengths of the programme and something we’re incredibly proud to be part of.

It’s been amazing to join the English Hubs Council this year and I’ve genuinely loved every minute of it. It’s been a fantastic opportunity to work alongside colleagues from English Hubs across the country, helping to shape the future of the programme while sharing ideas, learning from one another and celebrating the impact we’re all having. It’s been an absolute privilege to be involved, and I’ve taken so much from the experience. It’s also been wonderful to bring those conversations, ideas and national perspectives back to the work we do here at Roade English Hub, ensuring our schools continue to benefit from the very best practice from across the English Hubs network.

Another proud moment this year was seeing Hayley play such an important role in organising the National Literacy Specialist Training Event in Bristol. Working alongside colleagues from across the country, she helped create a fantastic event that brought Literacy Specialists together to learn, collaborate and continue developing their expertise. It perfectly reflected what English Hubs are all about, sharing knowledge, supporting one another and always striving to improve.

Our Literacy Specialists continue to receive exceptional feedback from schools, with every school surveyed saying they would recommend the support they received. Reading the comments from teachers and leaders never gets old. Time and again they tell us that our team are knowledgeable, approachable, responsive and genuinely invested in helping schools succeed. Those relationships are what make our work so enjoyable. The team work hard to make sure they are always up to date with the latest research and guidance and spend endless hours preparing for their school visits. Our team meetings are jam packed full of training and they never complain about the multiple role plays I make them take part in! It’s a joy to work alongside them. 

As we finish the year, we feel enormously proud, not simply because of the statistics, although they are certainly worth celebrating, but because of what they represent. Every audit, every training session, every coaching conversation and every school visit has been part of a much bigger picture: ensuring that more children receive the high-quality reading education they deserve and that more teachers feel confident delivering it.

To every school leader, teacher, teaching assistant, Literacy Specialist, colleague across the English Hub network and partner organisation we’ve worked with this year, thank you. Thank you for welcoming us into your schools and organisations, for being open to learning, for asking thoughtful questions, for sharing your successes and for trusting us to be part of your journey. Everything we have achieved this year has been possible because of the fantastic partnerships we’ve built together.

We’re already excited about what lies ahead. There are new opportunities, new projects, considerable growth, and even more schools to support next year, and we can’t wait to get started. Until then, we hope you all enjoy a well-earned summer break, find time to relax with family and friends and, of course, lose yourself in a good book or two.

Thank you for being part of another incredible year with Roade English Hub. Here’s to another year of changing lives through reading.