National assessment data shows that around one in three students is not meeting expected literacy benchmarks, a statistic that rings alarm bells for educators, leaders and policy makers alike.
The Literacy Gap in Secondary Years
Literacy is foundational - not simply the ability to read and write, but the capacity to make meaning from text, communicate effectively and think critically across subject areas. Secondary schooling assumes that students enter with these skills well established, yet national and international evidence indicates that this is not the case.
According to recent analysis, 43% of 15-year-olds in Australia are not proficient in reading, with disadvantaged students disproportionately represented among those lagging behind. These patterns matter because low literacy is strongly linked to broader educational disengagement.
Why Literacy Is a Whole-School Issue
Unlike primary schooling, where literacy instruction is often explicit and central, secondary literacy can become siloed within subject areas. Yet every subject depends on literacy, whether it’s decoding complex science texts, interpreting historical sources, or articulating mathematical reasoning. Improving literacy requires a coordinated, school-wide approach.
Evidence-Based Strategies for School-Wide Literacy Improvement
1. Prioritise Disciplinary Literacy Across the Curriculum
Every faculty and subject area should play a role in literacy development. Teachers need professional learning to understand how literacy manifests in their discipline and how to strengthen it through explicit instruction - for example, decoding technical vocabulary in science or analysing argumentative structures in history texts.
2. Build Vocabulary and Reading Skills Systematically
Explicit vocabulary instruction across subjects supports comprehension and academic success. Students need structured opportunities to learn and apply subject-specific terms, and to engage with increasingly complex texts.
3. Integrate Reading and Writing Instruction
Rather than treating reading and writing as separate skills, schools should combine them in classroom practice. Strategies such as modelled writing, guided structured reading, and writing scaffolds help students practise advanced literacy skills within meaningful contexts.
4. Provide Targeted Support for Struggling Students
Australian research recommends multi-tiered systems of support that couple high-quality whole-class instruction with targeted small-group or one-to-one interventions when needed. Regular assessment and progress monitoring enable teachers to identify gaps early and tailor support accordingly.
5. Promote Structured Talk and Collaborative Literacy
Structured academic talk, where students discuss texts, justify interpretations, and build arguments, enhances comprehension and critical thinking. It also supports language development in disciplines like maths and science where reasoning is central.
Twinkl: Supporting Literacy Practices in Secondary Schools
Improving literacy is not just a strategic priority, it’s a daily challenge for teachers under immense time pressure. Many secondary educators report that planning high-quality, literacy-rich lessons across multiple subjects adds to an already heavy workload. This is where practical, curriculum-aligned resources can make a tangible difference.
Twinkl offers a growing suite of secondary resources designed to support evidence-based literacy strategies. Some key links which may help include:
A Collective Commitment to Literacy
Twinkl stands alongside schools as a supportive partner in this work, offering resources that help translate research into practice.
By reducing planning burden and aligning with proven literacy strategies, Twinkl enables teachers to focus on what matters most: helping every student become a confident reader, communicator, and learner.
