The 2014/15 school year saw the pilot of the JRCS Right to Write Project. Right to Write saw all Year 7 students plan, draft and complete “best” pieces of extended writing in all of their subjects. These pieces of work were marked for literacy and final “best” pieces of work were stored in presentation folders. Many years on and the project is growing…
Right to Write is an integral part of Jo Richardson Community School, both because it enables our students to develop their literacy skills and because it encourages pupils to explore subjects they feel passionate about in more depth. This year, due to circumstances with COVID-19, the projects has been put on standby, but we hope to get the project back up and running as soon as is possible.
Over the past years, Student Voice feedback has been really encouraging towards the creative element of Right to Write and students requested more opportunities to explore their subjects in an imaginative way. As a result, the Literacy Team launched its first ever Right to Write Creative Writing Competition, which challenged KS3 students to write a short descriptive writing piece based on the Victorian period. The competition drew upon skills that students had been learning throughout the year in lessons, yet it enabled them to think independently and imaginatively about the topic. It also provided students with a head start to their GCSE English exams as students enjoy a variety of texts from different time periods, including ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ from the Victorian Era. A brilliant number of students participated in the event and even attended a creative writing workshop held by the school to develop their skills.
Moreover, students have also been given the opportunity to become a Literacy Leader. Many students across KS3 volunteered to become an outstanding member of the Literacy team to help the English department carry out important tasks, from creating exciting literacy displays, organising the Right to Write project alongside Miss Smith, as well as volunteering their help during social time and open evenings.
At JRCS, we also believe that it is important to recognise all of the hard work and effort that students put into their work. After looking at the rewards for the project, the Literacy Team decided to launch a Right to Write Rewards Trip for students who performed exceedingly well, either in their attainment or in effort. Last year, teachers across all departments recommended students to attend an exciting creative writing workshop at The British Library, hosted by a professional actor. The winners of the creative writing competition joined those students and the work that they produced was truly impressive! We will certainly continue to look at new ways to encourage students to achieve in their Right to Write…
Moving forwards, Student Voice feedback this year was overwhelmingly positive for Right to Write. One Year 9 student commented on how “it’s really helpful for GCSE because it helps us understand how to write properly”. A number of students also recognised that the project really challenges them, with one student saying that they found it “difficult in a good way”. At JRCS, we are proud that students feel both challenged and supported to aspire for more. Overall, some students commented on how they felt they did not have enough time to complete projects in some lessons and this is certainly something we will look into so that students feel they can fully explore their ideas – if anything, we are happy that students are so passionate about their projects that they would like more lesson time! Some students also commented on how although completing a project for every lesson is undoubtedly beneficial, at times deadlines would be close together. Starting in in September, we will be looking at ways to ensure that students feel fully supported – these skills will also be invaluable for GCSE preparation as KS3 students learn how to manage their time effectively.
Overall, JRCS has seen another successful year of Right to Write and we will continue to work hard to ensure that the project strengthens our students’ confidence in writing. Undoubtedly, we have seen a huge improvement in the literacy of our first cohort of students who participated in the scheme. The pride and joy that students have in receiving their final folders on their celebration evenings will continue to make all of the hard work and effort worthwhile. There are lots of exciting projects on the horizon next year and we look forward to what the new year holds.
Thank you to all of those involved in the project this year – it is the hard work of individuals that makes us an unbeatable team here at JRCS!
