FOUR Edinburgh primaries did some joined-up writing with their local secondary, the Royal High, in a project described by Ken Greer, HMI responsible for 5-14 English, as an exciting initiative which was in line with the action demanded in the inspectorate’s report on Improving Writing 5-14.
“Writing Enterprise” involved more than 200 primary seven pupils from Blackhall, Clermiston, Cramond and Davidson’s Mains primaries in the city, and covered all aspects of imaginative personal writing, as well as functional writing on the theme of journeys.
Part of the aim was to improve links between primary education and the first year of secondary, and the project was continued when the pupils paid their three-day iduction visit to the Royal High recently.
The pupils’ work is being
published in a special bulletin which is to be sent to the parents of all the primary seven pupils involved. Additional material is being displayed at the Royal High and in a local library.
“This has allowed secondary colleagues and the community to view writing of a high quality across the curriculum,”
Scott Meal, the head of Davidson’s Mains primary, says. “It has allowed primary and secondary teachers to work collaboratively and our English specialists are aware that quality writing can be achieved by primary
six and seven children when teaching, and an interventionist approach are central to the development.”