Embedding a whole-school literacy strategy at Cowley Academy

When Daisy Bland took on the role of Executive Lead for Literacy and Communication at SLAT, Bedrock was already in place in the Trust. What began as a tool she inherited quickly revealed its value. Observing the power of Bedrock first-hand: "I saw the progression of those students, I saw their understanding of vocabulary. Very quickly it became apparent... this needed to be a whole-school literacy solution."

The rationale was simple: strong language skills open doors. Students at the school highlight the real-world importance of literacy, from articulating themselves more clearly in lessons to improving their future job prospects. One student reflected that being able to explain why they’d be good at a job starts with being able to express themselves well - a skill they felt they were gaining through Bedrock.

The implementation process was smooth and well supported, with staff praising Bedrock's accessibility and responsive support team. According to Melissa Poulson, Literacy Lead at Cowley Academy: "The process with Bedrock has been amazing, mainly because of the support that Bedrock's given us... ironing out any sort of difficulties that we've had."

From a teaching perspective, the platform’s clarity and the depth of its data made it easy to track student progress and identify areas for intervention. As Michael Brown, the Trust Lead for Literacy at SLAT, explained: "From a teacher's point of view, I find Bedrock very straightforward. The platform gives very clear data."

Crucially, the Trust didn’t treat literacy as the responsibility of English teachers alone. Bedrock was rolled out across all four schools and embedded in all subjects, ensuring vocabulary development was part of the wider curriculum. The platform’s adaptive features - such as retesting and reinforcing key vocabulary - proved especially effective in supporting long-term retention and deep understanding.

Students were set weekly tasks and had access to knowledge organisers, which helped them make connections between what they were learning in class and at home. The independence this encouraged was seen as a key benefit, helping students take ownership of their learning and engage with literacy more proactively.

The impact has been significant - both in terms of data and everyday classroom experience. Over several years, SLAT has recorded consistent year-on-year improvements in English progress scores, culminating in the highest results the Trust has seen to date. A particularly compelling example came from a focus group of students who had used Bedrock from Year 7 through to Year 11. Their progress was described as “astounding”, offering strong evidence of the programme’s long-term effectiveness.

Beyond academic outcomes, students have shown noticeable increases in confidence. Many now feel more comfortable reading aloud, writing fluently, and contributing in lessons. One student who once avoided speaking in front of others now enjoys sharing their work - a shift attributed to feeling more confident in their vocabulary.

Teachers also benefit from Bedrock’s suite of reporting tools, which provide insight not only into individual class performance but also whole-school trends. This has empowered literacy leads and classroom teachers to make more informed decisions about support and strategy.

Building on this success, the Trust is now focusing on creating a seamless literacy journey from Year 7 through to Year 11. With plans to extend the use of Bedrock’s Mapper tool, SLAT aims to ensure that students continue developing their vocabulary and literacy skills consistently across all key stages - supporting success not just in English, but across the curriculum.

The partnership between Bedrock and South Lincolnshire Academies Trust demonstrates how a targeted, well-supported approach to literacy can drive meaningful, measurable outcomes. With improved student confidence, clear academic gains, and a culture of literacy embedded across the Trust, Bedrock has become far more than a platform - it’s now a foundation for long-term educational success.