Turves Green Boys School, Birmingham

Target Groups

3 groups of 12 (Scores reported on 30 pupils instead of 36, 3 moved away, 3 incomplete data) Year group 7

Used for Learning Support

Targeted pupils reading 2 or more years below their chronological age, some were reading as low as 7.0, most were reading in the 8 year range, yet they were 11 years old.

Pattern of Use

Twice a week - 30 minutes per session, October - July. Boys also had access to Global English before school and at dinner times. Those who came at least 4 times per week showed greater gains.

Timetabling

English department found it disruptive having pupils leaving class twice a week and other departments were hesitant to allow pupils to leave classes because of National Curriculum implications.

Evaluations

Reading Ages, Average gain 9.2 months. 27/30 improved. Greatest improvement 22 months, 2 x pupils 21 months and 1 pupil 20 months.

Spelling Ages, Average gain 8.5 months. 22/30 improved. Greatest improvement 2 pupils 36 months, 1 pupil 28 months, 1 pupil 26 months, 1 pupil 20 months. 2 pupils regressed in both areas, 1 Emotional Behavioural Difficulties and 1 with medical problems.

Tests Used - Salford Sentence Reading Test. Blackwells Spelling Test.

The successes offered by Global English were such a welcome relief for these pupils who came into the room feeling like failures. Low self - esteem is the greatest obstacle for secondary pupils who have not managed to unravel the mystery of reading. Global English offers more opportunities for boosting self esteem than any other instrument that I have found after years and years (!) of searching. Some winter morning I had all 12 computer stations occupied by 8:00am; at dinner time I had to turn pupils away, some days I could have used 36 machines instead of 12!

Year 7 boys from Turves Green Primary exhibit greater confidence about being at Turves Green Boys School partly because they used our facilities last year so they "know their way" around the school, but also because they have experienced success with reading/spelling. Of the children that used Global English in Year 6 who are on the SEN register, their reading ages are generally higher than those who did not have access to the software, therefore they may be able to continue to make progress and work their way OFF the register!

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