£60k project will support teaching of literacy in Sunderland classrooms
Improving Literacy in the Classroom in Sunderland - Northern Education Trust
A project that aims to give teachers in Sunderland the support they need to boost literacy in the classroom has received funding worth £60,900 from SHINE.
The project, Improving Literacy in the Classroom in Sunderland, will provide a training support programme to help school leaders and teachers enhance their confidence in improving literacy. The programme will not be a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, the support will be designed to fit each school’s unique strengths, challenges, and goals.
Beth Howieson, the Literacy Lead and Assistant Principal at Northern Education Trust, explained: “Initially, we’ll be working with three schools – Farringdon, Hetton, and Red House where there is also an established and robust literacy and reading strategy in place to further optimise this, we are bringing their Literacy Leaders together to share ideas, develop strategies, and strengthen literacy teaching across the board.
“At its core, this project is about giving teachers the skills, confidence, and knowledge to make literacy a priority in their subjects. Teachers are a school’s biggest asset, and by supporting them, we can have a significant impact on student literacy.
“When teachers feel fully equipped to embed literacy into their lessons, students benefit. Stronger literacy skills mean students can engage more effectively with the curriculum, which in turn improves their overall learning and future opportunities.
“We’re also looking at the bigger picture – creating a network of literacy champions across Sunderland to ensure that literacy support is sustainable and long-term. This isn’t just about quick fixes; it’s about lasting change.”
A big part of the project is a Literacy Conference which will take place annually . This will bring Literacy Leaders from across Sunderland schools together to share best practice, collaborate, and build strong networks. The focus will be on practical solutions that make a real difference in the classroom.
Of receiving the grant from SHINE Sunderland, Beth said: “Our academies serve over 1,700 students in Sunderland, and this funding allows us to build on what we’re already doing, strengthening the support for students who struggle most with literacy.
“Strong literacy skills give students better opportunities, both in school and beyond. This funding helps us move closer to our goal of giving every child the best possible start in life.”
And regarding the SHINE Sunderland programme, which is investing £11 million into the city’s schools over the next decade, Beth said: “Schools in Sunderland are facing multifaceted barriers to effectively develop literacy skills.
“This funding will impact the lives of so many students in Sunderland, not just academically, but will go a long way in improving the life opportunities of generations to come.”
By the end of the two-year project, it is hoped that Literacy Leads across Sunderland will have received high-quality training, teachers will be more confident in supporting weaker readers, and student literacy will have improved, tracked through monitoring, reports, and assessments. Additionally, a strong network of Sunderland’s teachers across all subject disciplines will have been established, with staff regularly sharing best practice and impact.
Fiona Spellman, CEO of SHINE, said: “At SHINE, we believe that strong literacy skills opens doors to brighter futures. This project will give teachers the tools and confidence to embed top-quality literacy teaching in every classroom, ensuring students have the support they need to thrive.
“We’re proud to support this initiative and look forward to learning more about its impact in classrooms across Sunderland.”