


KS2 literacy improvement with Wygate Park Academy

Why Bedrock?
At Wygate, it’s the “quality over quantity” approach that Bedrock takes which appealed to the school. The consistent drip feed of new knowledge with repetition, spaced learning and the powerful practice that is embedded with Bedrock ensures high quality learning.
Bedrock's impact
The success of Bedrock at Wygate Park Academy was highlighted by their Trust improvement team. Bedrock has been instrumental in raising word-consciousness and improving vocabulary as well as cultural capital for many learners at Wygate Park Academy.
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A conversation with Dr Craig Early, Head of Wygate Academy
Dr Craig Early has been Head of Wygate Park Academy – a primary academy in Spalding, Lincolnshire – for six years. He first heard about Bedrock Learning through the Academy’s associated Trust, Boston Witham Academies Federation (BWAF).
A mentor, content writer (for BBC Bitesize amongst others) and researcher (published in PSTT, RSC and more), he wanted to see how Bedrock could benefit KS2 learners. The 2015 Science Teacher of the year told us he “does not implement anything unless there is a clear reason and it will have impact.”
Dr Craig Early has been Head of Wygate Park Academy – a primary academy in Spalding, Lincolnshire – for six years. He first heard about Bedrock Learning through the Academy’s associated Trust, Boston Witham Academies Federation (BWAF).
A mentor, content writer (for BBC Bitesize amongst others) and researcher (published in PSTT, RSC and more), he wanted to see how Bedrock could benefit KS2 learners. The 2015 Science Teacher of the year told us he “does not implement anything unless there is a clear reason and it will have impact.”

"The wide variety of vocabulary learners are exposed to gives them the tools to develop their writing and oracy skills. Bedrock is 100% a good idea!"
We spoke to Craig about the demands of teaching EAL learners vocabulary, embedding the teaching of vocabulary across the school, his implementation strategies and bridging the word gap at transition.
Why is teaching vocabulary so important to you?
Vocabulary T&L takes on more importance here as over 50% of our learners are EAL. We always say that “reading is a gateway to everything”. Vocabulary and reading go hand in hand – they are the foundation to unlock confidence, oracy and self-esteem. Once you have that foundation, you can develop writing and oracy.
This is very much in line with the findings of the recent Oxford Language Report: Bridging the Word Gap at Transition.
As a science specialist, how do you think we should be teaching vocabulary in the classroom?
Across the curriculum, especially in Maths and Science, learners have to use technical vocabulary. We teach words so that learners can fully understand them, show that they understand them and use them in a range of contexts. For example, when teaching materials and properties in science, learners need to experience words using all their senses to grasp the concepts behind them. They need to touch an object to know and understand that it is ‘metallic’, for example.
We favour a fully immersive approach to vocabulary teaching in the classroom – learners love nothing more than using new words!
How have you embedded Bedrock into your T&L across the school?
There can be apathy and a sense of going through the motions, so it is important to have a symbiotic approach to literacy.
To give you a few examples:
- I ask learners to stop me in the corridor and tell me a new word they’ve learnt on Bedrock.
- Students highlight Bedrock words in their writing.
- Students place a post it note in their reading books if there is a word they haven’t come across and look it up. By the end of the book, they may have 50 post-it notes of new words they have learnt!
I was observing a lesson the other day and drew from the Bedrock display (which all KS2 classrooms have). The display shows the Bedrock words students are learning, as well as their meanings (written by students in their own words).
I went around the class: "What does ‘shimmer’ mean? Can you use it in a sentence?" Every single learner knew what each word meant and could use them confidently!
Are you happy with the progress learners make on Bedrock?
Yes, Bedrock is a really powerful tool. It gives impetus to our literacy approaches.
Our Trust improvement team brought it to our attention. It’s been really successful in raising word-consciousness. Much to teachers’ annoyance, I like to pop in and ask learners about their work on Bedrock – they love that recognition.
Our learners were being penalised on the vocabulary questions on their SATs paper. One year they were asked to describe a “recess” – most of our learners didn’t know what it meant as they simply hadn’t come across it. This links to cultural capital. Some may have said it is an American word for “breaktime”, but that was about it. None of them knew that it was a dent on a wall!
We knew we couldn’t teach 30 million words and their meanings by ourselves – the systematic way Bedrock exposes learners to Tier 2 words really appealed to us.
I remember Bedrock mentioning the 30-million word gap in our CPD session. It’s absolutely right – we see it in the classroom. Learners who have lots of conversations with adults and read at home naturally inquire about new words and their meanings. We have a large percentage of learners where that doesn’t happen.
What appealed to you about Bedrock Learning?
The “quality over quantity” approach - the consistent drip feed, repetition, spaced learning and the power of practice we get with Bedrock is embedded in everything we do.
How have you implemented Bedrock?
Learners are given three sessions a week to access Bedrock. We do need to invest in devices, as that can affect timetabling.
We will look into the parental engagement features on Bedrock to see if more could be done at home. We wanted it all in school initially for quality control – to make sure learners and staff invested in it.
Over lockdown, Bedrock formed part of our remote learning action plan.
How has a focus on word gaps helped to ensure smooth transitions between feeder schools in the BWAF Trust?
Across BWAF Boston schools, transitions are managed really well in all subjects. The BWAF transition project was really insightful; secondary school teachers were able to see the terminology we used in primary and vice versa – it didn’t always match up. It’s helped inform a more uniform approach to language (particularly disciplinary literacy).
Exposure to academic vocabulary plays a big part in the BWAF transition package. Over the summer, learners are given knowledge organisers to prepare them for that leap up to secondary school. Just as with the transition from Year 2 to Year 3, it’s all about laying the groundwork.
Going forward, it would be astute for us to ask our linked secondary schools whether they use Bedrock. This could create a sense of continuity and much-needed familiarity for learners.
Case Studies
More brilliant case studies...
Success in every subject at St Anselm's Catholic School
"Subjects get to cherry-pick their words, but the way that students learn is completely consistent."
How we use Bedrock Learning at Coston Primary
"From a workload perspective [for teachers], there is no workload with Bedrock. It's been wonderful for our teachers to use."
Why the Harris Federation chose to partner with Bedrock
"Bedrock Learning certainly has the power to turn students into linguists and open doors to their futures. Vocabulary is the absolute lever point to their future and therefore Bedrock Learning has the power to create their future."
Doubling national literacy progress at St Mary’s CEVA Primary School
"I can’t think of a programme that can support children in their vocabulary building better than Bedrock."
Data & Reporting within Harris Federation academies
"As a Literacy Lead overseeing 32 secondary schools, it's a massive challenge. Bedrock Learning certainly gives me the insights and the possibility of penetrating the literacy vision within each of those schools." - Charlotte Evans, Literacy Lead at Harris Federation
Improving reading comprehension by 20% for KS3 learners at Taverham High School
"Overall, we are seeing that reading comprehension across our Key Stage 3 learners has improved by 20%.”
Impacting outcomes for Pupil Premium, EAL and SEND learners at Harris Federation
"We have had remarkable success with some of our English as an Additional Language students, they have really shone with this and they love that empowerment of learning new words."
Using Bedrock for the humanities at St. Anselm's
"We had a member of senior leadership from another school come and visit, and they couldn't believe that our Year 8's knew [words] that they were struggling with with their GCSE [learners]. Our Year 8's have just flown with it."
Partnering with Bedrock across the Harris Federation
"All 32 of our schools are now fully-fledged, signed up members of the Bedrock crew... and this is because we have been able to show evidence of excellence."