Empowering Communication and Literacy: The ReadingWise Pilot at Williamwood High School's Communication Support Service
At Williamwood High School, the Communication Support Service (CSS) is dedicated to providing crucial support for pupils with identified core communication needs within East Renfrewshire Council, Scotland. These students require targeted intervention in areas such as literacy, reading, language and communication, reciprocal social interaction, and flexibility of thought/creativity. Recognising the profound impact of literacy on overall academic and social development, the CSS embarked on a transformative journey with ReadingWise resources from February to June 2025.
A Commitment to Progress: The ReadingWise Implementation
The pilot programme at Williamwood High School's CSS has been a resounding success, demonstrating the significant potential of ReadingWise to enhance reading skills and boost student confidence. A total of 44 students from S1 to S6 engaged with ReadingWise, accumulating an impressive 123 hours of dedicated learning time.
Read the full case study below, or download the PDF.
Focusing on the 25 students with complete pre- and post-intervention reading age data, the results are inspiring. These students collectively invested 104 hours in ReadingWise and achieved a remarkable collective improvement in reading age of 353 months – nearly 30 years of reading progress! On average, each student experienced a powerful 14-month increase in reading age after just 4.17 hours of engagement with the programme.
Tailored Support, Tangible Results
The impact of ReadingWise was particularly evident when analysed by year group:
- S1 (8 students): These students demonstrated exceptional dedication, averaging 6.20 hours on ReadingWise and achieving an outstanding average reading age increase of 29.5 months per learner, totaling 236 months for the group. Even with the exclusion of three high-achieving outliers, the remaining S1 students still showed a significant average increase of 5.4 months.
- S2 (7 students): Students in S2 averaged 4.70 hours on ReadingWise, resulting in an average reading age improvement of 9.14 months per student.
- S3 (5 students): S3 students, with an average of 1.46 hours on ReadingWise, saw an average reading age increase of 10.2 months.
- S4 (5 students): While S4 students primarily focused on vocabulary development, they still showed an average reading age increase of 0.4 months.
The module usage data further highlights the programme's adaptability. S1 to S3 students predominantly used the Zip and Decoding modules, focusing on foundational reading skills. In contrast, S4 to S6 students primarily engaged with the Vocab module, emphasising vocabulary development. This targeted approach ensures that students receive the most appropriate support for their individual needs.
Overwhelmingly Positive Feedback
The success of the ReadingWise pilot is not only evident in the data but also in the enthusiastic feedback from both staff and students:
- Staff Feedback: Teachers reported a noticeable increase in student confidence and significant improvements in reading age. All staff members expressed their support for the continuation of ReadingWise, praising its ease of navigation, its effectiveness in providing an additional strategy for reading development, and its straightforward, user-friendly design with a clear progression of modules.
- Student Feedback: While experiences were varied, many students expressed genuine enjoyment and found ReadingWise highly beneficial for their reading skills. Comments such as, "Very helpful and enjoyed a lot, helped with reading, I would like to continue", "I liked hearing all the right words", and "I learned some new words and what they mean" underscore the positive impact on their learning journey.
Looking Ahead: A Brighter Future with ReadingWise
The Williamwood High School CSS ReadingWise pilot has undeniably been a success, with 123 hours of impactful learning and positive reading age increases across all participating year groups. Moving forward, the Communication Support Service plans to integrate ReadingWise into the curriculum for all S1 to S6 students, with a commitment to at least three sessions per week, each lasting a minimum of 20 minutes.
Key considerations for maximising impact and student experience in the next academic year include:
- Consistent Data Collection: Implementing a standardised process for reading age testing will ensure consistent and reliable data for ongoing evaluation.
- Personalised Module Assignment: Ensuring that all pupils are assigned the most appropriate ReadingWise modules, tailored to their unique strengths and needs, will optimise learning outcomes. ReadingWise will provide comprehensive training for staff to support this personalised approach.
- Optimised Scheduling: Strategic scheduling of ReadingWise sessions, avoiding periods traditionally allocated for student relaxation, will further enhance engagement and positive associations with the programme.
The ReadingWise pilot at Williamwood High School's Communication Support Service stands as a testament to the programme's ability to empower students, build confidence, and significantly improve reading proficiency. This success story provides a compelling case for other settings seeking effective and engaging literacy interventions.
Can ReadingWise Help You?
Find out more by downloading this case study, then read about our range of modules to understand how ReadingWise might work for pupils in your school.
