Closing the Literacy Gap: Phonics Interventions in Secondary Schools

Reading is the foundation of learning and success in school. Yet, many pupils enter secondary education without the skills they need. In 2024, 26% of Year 6 pupils in England did not meet the expected standard in reading, meaning over 170,000 children started secondary school unable to access the curriculum fully. Research shows that one third of pupils are considered weak readers by their teachers, and a quarter require regular withdrawal from lessons for extra reading support. This matters because reading ability strongly predicts success across all subjects; students with poor reading skills struggle not only in English but also in maths and science at GCSE level. 

Without urgent action, these pupils risk falling further behind, limiting their academic achievement and life chances. This is why schools must make reading a top priority. 

Why Phonics Still Matters in Secondary Education 

Phonics teaches the relationship between sounds and letters, enabling students to decode unfamiliar words. For secondary students, this skill is essential for accessing complex texts in science, history, and literature. Misconceptions persist that phonics is “babyish” or irrelevant beyond primary school, but evidence from the science of reading demonstrates that explicit instruction benefits learners at any age when foundational skills are weak. 

Identifying Students Who Need Phonics Support 

Signs of decoding difficulties include slow, inaccurate reading, reliance on guessing, and avoidance of reading tasks. Screening tools such as phonics checklists, miscue analysis, and diagnostic assessments help identify gaps. For EAL learners, it’s important to distinguish between language acquisition needs and decoding issues: phonics can support both by reinforcing sound-symbol correspondence. 

Age-Appropriate Phonics Approaches 

Older learners require materials that respect their maturity. Programmes should use age-appropriate texts, avoid childish illustrations, and integrate phonics with vocabulary and comprehension. Structured synthetic phonics remains the gold standard, but adaptations for teens include multisensory techniques, morphology (prefixes, suffixes), and explicit teaching of irregular words.