Our Star School for September is…
Pakefield High School, Suffolk!
At Pakefield High School, Lexia is helping students build confidence and make real progress in literacy. In this interview, Jess Harvey, Teaching Assistant and Lexia Coordinator, shares how the school has embedded Lexia into their intervention strategy, the impact on student motivation, and why it stands out as a valuable tool for reading development.
How did you first come across the Lexia program and what led to the school’s final decision to purchase?
We had a school within our MAT that was already using Lexia. We received an email about it, so we spoke with the other schools to see how they had found the programme. After hearing their feedback, we decided to give it a try. The final decision came after the trial, as we felt it was the best intervention we could implement for English in our school.
What do you feel makes Lexia stand apart from other reading skills software products on the market?
We love that it’s online, it’s interactive, and it interests the children. It’s different from traditional classroom learning; they’re not just sitting with a piece of paper. We love that it’s independent, it’s tailored to each and every student, and it encourages that independent learning.
How is Lexia used in your school? Please provide details of your daily routine and how you ensure that you reach recommended usage as well as which pupils use the program in school.
In terms of identifying students, we were already running phonics and spelling interventions, as well as STAR reading tests. So, we took the students who were already receiving those interventions or had been identified as having a lower reading age. We then spoke with class teachers to get their feedback and see if any other students stood out as needing extra support.
During the transition period, especially with new Year 7s coming in, we assess those students, and if they need intervention, we make sure they’re placed on it.
As for how we use Lexia in our school, we run it in different ways. We have form-time interventions, which are about half an hour in the morning with groups of up to 20 children. We also run sessions throughout the week for groups of 15 to 20 students, which is where we tend to support a lot of our lower-ability students.
In addition, we have Period 6 sessions, two 45-minute sessions for our older students in Years 10 and 11.
Describe the impact that Lexia has had on your pupils. Have you noticed a positive change in their motivation to succeed in literacy?
Oh, absolutely. We’ve definitely seen an improvement with teenagers, especially in their confidence. Students are able to check their progress and see how far they’ve come, from where they started to where they are now.
It’s great to see those moments where they say, ‘Look, Miss, I’ve completed this level!’ or ‘I’ve powered up!’, it’s really beneficial. It’s lovely to see them gain that self-confidence after a Lexia session.
Can you give an example of a Lexia success that sticks out to you?
Yes, we actually had a student with a low reading age, and from the trial to where they are now, they’ve made huge progress. Their reading ability has really improved, and their confidence has grown massively.
With their GCSEs coming up, they now feel much more positive, like, ‘I do know this, I can do this.’ So yeah, it’s made a real difference.
How have you used rewards to motivate and celebrate success on the Lexia program?
Yeah, so we use the Lexia resources, like certificates, at the end of every half term. We also hold assemblies where we recognise students’ achievements.
We’ll purchase small gifts for students who have really stood out, whether they’ve worked hard in a tricky area like grammar, word study, or comprehension, or if they’ve completed a large number of units and put in extra effort, including using Lexia at home. We nominate those students for a reward, which is really beneficial.
There’s definitely some healthy competition across all year groups. They really want that reward!
How useful have you found the myLexia reports in terms of demonstrating progression and informing planning?
They’re really useful! Great for tracking the progress students are making. We do weekly check-ins to see how they’re getting on, how many units they’ve completed, and whether they might need a bit of extra support.
It’s also brilliant to share this data with other staff during meetings and compare it with other interventions we’re using in school. So, it’s really beneficial.
What main piece of advice would you give to a school that was just getting started with Lexia?
I would say get as many staff involved as possible in implementing it. I have several other TAs who run sessions alongside me, and we also have accounts for the headteacher and English teachers so they can access reports and track progress.
I’d definitely recommend making sure all staff can engage with it. And just give it time. Progress doesn’t happen overnight, but with consistency, you’ll see the results.
What feedback have you had from your Lexia pupils?
They love the reward system, especially that end-of-half-term moment when they receive their reward and see how many certificates they’ve accumulated over the half-term. And of course, they love the bigger rewards, like an Easter egg when Easter is coming up.
They also really like being able to check their progress at the end of each session. That’s something we make sure to do. We review how many units they’ve completed, and if they’re struggling, we can step in with extra support. They know they’ll get that help from us.
And they love the high score streaks too! They like seeing how many correct answers they’ve got in a row!
Is there anything else you would like to add regarding why you think Lexia has been a success in your school?
I think for our students, especially boys, interventions can be a big hurdle. But Lexia is interactive, fun and, well, I want to say ‘cool’! It’s definitely not your typical intervention!
What stands out is that it’s tailor-made for each student. It’s suited to them, at the right level, and they’re progressing as they should be.
Finally, if you could describe Lexia in 3 words, what 3 words would you use?
I would say it’s personalised, targeted and enjoyable.
Independent evidence to support literacy improvement
The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) recently commissioned a large-scale, randomised controlled trial to test the impact of Lexia® Core5® Reading with groups of Year 2 pupils across multiple regions of England.
The study explored how Core5 could:
- Support struggling readers in making accelerated progress.
- Help disadvantaged pupils close the attainment gap.
- Be implemented alongside existing school provision with positive feedback from staff.
With a high evidence security rating, and the intervention deemed very low cost to implement, the trial provides trusted, independent insight into the role of adaptive technology in supporting reading development.
Download the Free PDF Summary
Download the free summary PDF to discover the study’s design, key findings and what teachers said about using Core5 in their classrooms.
Time is one of the rarest resources in education. Between teaching, supporting in class and or leading interventions, there’s often little space left in the week to dive into data. Yet, those insights are key to understanding pupil needs and planning next steps.
That’s why myLexia is designed to work with your workflow, not add to it. With just a few minutes each week, it can help highlight where to focus, who needs support and how best to use your time and resources.
To help you make the most of it, our Literacy Impact Coaches have shared three of their top tips, drawn from hundreds of conversations with teachers across the country.
Tip 1: Little and often works best
Rather than saving everything up for an end-of-term review, taking five minutes a week to check myLexia can give you a clear sense of how things are going and where your time can make the biggest difference.
The Action Plan tab is particularly useful. It automatically organises pupils into helpful groups, helping you to quickly answer questions like:
- Who needs more time on the programme?
- Who is ready for a Skill Builder?
- Who is struggling and may need a Lesson Plan?
- Who’s ready to celebrate?
This quick snapshot makes it easy to act early and positively.
“We always say: small, consistent check-ins win the race. Even just five minutes in the Action Plan tab can help you catch issues early, or recognise when a pupil is ready to be challenged further.”
– Denise, Literacy Impact Coach
Tip 2: Use class-level reports to flag priorities
When time is tight, class-level reports offer a quick and efficient way to check in on your whole cohort. You’ll find these reports to the right of the Class Overview screen in myLexia – just a couple of clicks, and you have a full picture of progress and usage at your fingertips.
Start with the Usage Report, which looks slightly different depending on whether you’re using Core5 or PowerUp:
- In the Core5 usage report, pupils who haven’t made expected progress in the last four weeks are marked with a blue exclamation mark (!), a quick visual cue to check in on their learning journey.
- For PowerUp, the weekly usage report is colour-coded based on whether pupils have met their weekly units target. This makes it easy to identify who may need encouragement to stay on track.
Once you’ve reviewed usage, the Skills Progress Report can give further insight into overall progress. Look at the units gained column on the right-hand side of the report. By sorting pupils from most to least units gained, you can quickly see who’s making strong progress and who might benefit from additional support.
“Class-level reports give you a smart starting point. Sorting by units gained lets you spot patterns across the group and highlight any pupils who might otherwise slip under the radar.”
– Michael, Literacy Impact Coach
Tip 3: Let pupil data guide your use of paper-based resources
Paper-based resources like Skill Builders and Lesson Plans can be a valuable part of supporting pupils, but they’re most effective and time-efficient, when used at the right moment. Instead of printing packs for every pupil, use individual pupil data in myLexia to decide where these resources will have the most impact.
Here’s how to approach it:
Skill Builders: Use the Skills Report
This report provides a detailed breakdown of each pupil’s performance within a unit.
- Skill Builders: Look at the Skills Check scores (shown as a percentage). If a pupil scores below 75% on any Skills Check, that’s a strong signal they may benefit from a Skill Builder for that specific skill.
- You don’t need to assign Skill Builders for every skill, focus only where the score indicates a gap.
Lexia Lessons: Check the Step Attempts
Within the same report, you can also see the number of attempts a pupil has made on each step in a unit by clicking into the level name, this will open the Detailed Skill Report.
- If a pupil has made 10 or more attempts on their current unit without success, that’s a sign they may need more direct support with that concept.
- This is the point where using a paper-based Lexia Lesson Plan can be really helpful, providing structured teaching to address the difficulty head-on.
Bonus Tip: Consider a quicker intervention first
In many cases, you can act even earlier. If you notice a pupil struggling after just a few attempts on a step, try offering brief, over-the-shoulder support. A short check-in or prompt while they’re working independently can often help them move past the barrier without the need for a full lesson plan.
“Skill Builders and Lesson Plans are brilliant when used with purpose. By checking just one or two key indicators, you can be confident that your support is timely, targeted and not adding to your workload unnecessarily.”
– Mark, Literacy Impact Coach
When used purposefully, myLexia can help you stay one step ahead without spending hours on admin or analysis. By setting aside just a few minutes each week to check in, you can spot issues early, celebrate progress and direct your support where it’s needed most.
Small, consistent actions, like reviewing usage patterns, sorting pupils by progress or checking skill-level data, can have a big impact on outcomes. Most importantly, they allow you to spend less time working out what to do and more time doing what works.
Remember that you are not alone. Our Literacy Impact Coaches are here to help you interpret your data, plan next steps and ensure Lexia is working as hard as possible for your pupils and your team.
If you’d like support with implementation, training or getting more from myLexia, we’re ready to help.
Contact Us to book an Online Review & Support Session to talk through your school’s data and next steps with a member of our team. These sessions are included as part of your Lexia subscription so there’s no extra cost.
At LexiaUK, we believe that every student has the potential to succeed when equipped with the right tools. Morton Academy is a shining example of what’s possible when educators are empowered with Lexia PowerUp Literacy.
See the Impact for Yourself
Ready to explore how Lexia PowerUp can support your students? We’re offering a free 30-day evaluation so you can experience the transformative power of our program first-hand.
Please fill in the form below and a member of our team will be in touch.
The start of a new school year is brimming with opportunity. Fresh books, sharpened pencils and new opportunities for every learner. But the first term is more than just a settling-in period. It represents a critical window to identify and close literacy gaps before they widen, impacting confidence, motivation, and long-term success.
From teaching phonics and early reading strategies in Year 1 to supporting Year 7s as they navigate more complex secondary texts, acting early is crucial. Here’s why.
The Critical Window: Why Early Intervention Works
Research consistently shows that timely intervention is one of the most effective ways to support struggling readers. The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) highlights that early literacy approaches deliver, on average, an additional four months’ progress (Education Endowment Foundation, 2023). Meanwhile, Ofsted (2022) stresses that “reading is the key to unlocking the curriculum,” urging schools not to delay support.
Catch issues early, and pupils are more likely to stay engaged and motivated. Miss that window, and literacy fatigue can set in: the demoralising sense of always being behind. By autumn half-term, gaps that might have been closed with targeted support can start to feel entrenched, leading to a cycle of avoidance and low confidence.
What the ‘Literacy Gap’ Looks Like in the Classroom
In primary classrooms, the early signs of reading gaps often appear as issues with decoding and fluency. Many teachers tell us that as texts grow more complex in Key Stage 2, children who once managed simpler books start to struggle, leading to a noticeable drop in comprehension and enthusiasm. Schools often report that it’s common to see some Year 3 pupils who can sound out words accurately but still lack the fluency to keep pace, and who begin to shy away from reading tasks as a result.
In secondary schools, the challenges for pupils with reading difficulties often become even more pronounced. Many schools tell us they see new Year 7s arriving with gaps that were manageable in primary but now hold them back across the curriculum. Limited vocabulary, weak inference skills, and poor reading stamina make it hard to tackle the dense, subject-specific texts that secondary learning demands. Pupils who struggled to keep up with reading in primary often find these demands overwhelming, impacting not just English, but their ability to access science, history, and even problem-solving in maths.
The Cost of Waiting
Delaying targeted reading support until later in the year can have far-reaching consequences for pupils and for schools. By the time gaps are fully recognised in the spring term, they’ve often widened considerably. Struggling readers may have spent months masking difficulties, losing confidence, and quietly disengaging. Meanwhile, the pace of the curriculum continues, widening the gap between those who read fluently and those who are still grappling with the basics.
This isn’t just about literacy lessons. When pupils lack the reading skills to access age-appropriate texts, it places a barrier across every subject. Left unaddressed, small gaps in September can become entrenched barriers by June, impacting progress, self-esteem, and long-term outcomes.
Many schools find that “catching up by Christmas” is far more realistic than trying to close extensive gaps from scratch in the spring or summer. Early intervention not only lifts reading ability but also rebuilds pupils’ belief in themselves as learners. The earlier schools act, the more time pupils have to develop fluency, deepen comprehension, and engage fully with the curriculum.
Fortunately, there are effective, evidence-based tools available that help teachers respond quickly and efficiently, providing targeted support exactly where it’s needed, without adding to workload.
In today’s busy school environment, literacy interventions need to be both effective and manageable for teachers. The best approaches provide timely insights into each pupil’s reading skills, allowing staff to tailor support without adding unnecessary workload.
Adaptive programmes that automatically assess learners’ strengths and areas for development can be particularly valuable. They reduce the need for lengthy baseline testing and make it easier to group pupils according to their specific needs. Built-in differentiation helps ensure that every child receives appropriate challenge and support, while engaging activities maintain motivation and build essential reading skills.
At secondary level, supporting vocabulary development, inference skills, and reading stamina is crucial for pupils transitioning from primary school. Interventions that offer personalised learning pathways and clear progress data help teachers focus on the areas that will make the biggest difference for each student, while integrating smoothly into existing teaching routines.
By using tools that combine adaptability, clear data, and ease of use, schools can respond quickly to emerging literacy needs. This not only helps close gaps early but also supports sustainable, whole-school approaches to improving reading outcomes.
What Schools Can Do Right Now
School leaders aiming to close reading gaps early can take decisive, practical steps immediately. Here’s how to get started:
- Start a free Lexia Core5 or PowerUp trial. Experience firsthand how adaptive technology can transform reading support in your school, offering personalised learning paths and instant progress insights without adding to teachers’ workload.
- Screen key cohorts early. Early screening helps catch emerging reading difficulties before they widen, allowing for timely and targeted intervention. Lexia’s programmes include an initial assessment enabling teachers to both identify and address reading gaps all at once.
- Engage your EdTech lead and literacy coordinators. Collaboration across leadership and teaching teams ensures smooth implementation and ongoing monitoring of interventions, aligning literacy goals with broader school improvement priorities.
Taking these steps positions your school to act swiftly and strategically, closing gaps early, boosting pupil confidence, and ultimately raising attainment across the curriculum. With the right tools and a clear plan, you can make this critical start to the academic year your most impactful yet.
References
Ofsted (2022) ‘Now the whole school is reading’: supporting struggling readers in secondary school.
Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) (2023) Early literacy approaches. Early Years Toolkit.
The Lexia® team are dedicated to evolving our literacy programmes to meet the needs of today’s educators and learners. This year’s new enhancements will deliver even more effective, engaging, and accessible learning experiences.
Lexia® Core5® Reading
Core5 is an adaptive literacy program that accelerates the development of literacy skills for all students from Reception to Year 6. It supports reading success by helping students with both word recognition and comprehension.
Enhanced Autoplacement Experience
To create a more supportive experience we’ve added engaging new visuals and audio, such as enhanced Language Support. This now plays before and after the competition of placement, so the learner knows what to expect when working through the programme.
Data-Driven Updates to Skills Checks
Skill Checks have been refined using data-driven insights, boosting student engagement while preserving assessment accuracy.
Audio Updates to Passage Fluency Units
The updated intro and directional audio in Passage Fluency activities provide clear guidance and a more immersive experience for learners.
Core5 Instructional Resources: Empowering Educators and Learners
The Comprehension and Vocabulary Lexia Lessons® have been updated with a new format that aligns with the science of reading and research-based best practices. Core5 Digital Lexia Lessons for Phonological Awareness, Fluency, and Phonics also now reflect these changes.
We’ve expanded language accessibility with the addition of Bengali translations for several key caregiver materials, including the General Achievement Certificate and General Home Use Letter, ensuring more families can stay informed and engaged.
Core5 Accessibility Enhancements
Recent enhancements to Core5 strengthen alignment with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), making the program increasingly accessible, inclusive, and user- friendly for all learners. Updates include:
- Improvements to keyboard navigation for easier movement through the program.
- Significant upgrades to colour contrast to improve readability.
- Additional support for sensory characteristics to ensure that students engage meaningfully with the content.
Lexia® PowerUp® Literacy
PowerUp is designed specifically for students in Years 7 to 11 who need support with literacy to fully access the wider secondary curriculum. The program focuses on accelerating literacy gains through an personalised learning experience that enhances reading, writing, and comprehension skills. PowerUp enables students to make multiple years of growth in a single academic year.
New: Units Goals
PowerUp students now have weekly Unit Goals that display directly on the Home Screen. Each strand card features a progress meter showing how many units the student has completed during the week, along with their weekly time goal.
Each strand has its own specific unit goal, balancing achievability and progress, with these resetting at the start of each week. Students are encouraged to meet, and exceed, their unit goals on their way to improving their reading proficiency.
Flexible Strand Management Option
Educators have the ability to turn off automatic strand management, ensuring all learning units remain active even after students meet their weekly usage goals. This flexibility supports a wider range of instructional models and implementation strategies.
Boosting Student Engagement
PowerUp introduces the following exciting new features designed to create a more engaging, efficient, and motivating experience for students.
- Background music has been added to the Home Page, creating a more dynamic and inviting atmosphere.
- Animations now appear when students meet unit goals, offering positive reinforcement that encourages continued progress.
- A button on the Home Page allows students to return to their last activity by jumping straight back into the unit they were working on during their last session. This time-saving feature helps students bypass intro videos and activity selections, encouraging them to complete unfinished work and stay on track. The button appears once a student has begun working in the program.
Engaging Content and Stronger Vocabulary Support
As part of PowerUp’s ongoing commitment to delivering research-driven, student-centred literacy instruction, we’ve made the following updates to strengthen comprehension and vocabulary support across the program:
- The Comprehension strand in Levels 2 and 4 now feature new passages, refreshed themes, and updated artwork, all designed to increase engagement. These enhancements support key instructional goals by integrating rich content-area topics, targeted vocabulary development, and higher-order thinking skills to deepen comprehension.
- In Levels 7–15, students will benefit from brand-new Essential Vocabulary activities that include explicit instruction and custom artwork to introduce key terms before reading. This offers meaningful vocabulary support that strengthens understanding and boosts overall reading success.
- To better reflect current research and ensure alignment with Core5, and educational standards, “Sight Words” in PowerUp are now called “High-Frequency Words.”
myLexia
myLexia is a platform and reporting tool designed to support educators using Lexia’s Core5 and PowerUp. The platform provides real-time student performance data, allowing teachers to monitor individual and classroom progress while equipping school leaders with progress and usage monitoring tools.
Deeper Insights, Streamlined Navigation, and Enhanced Reporting
Usability Improvements for Educators in myLexia
- Improved Student Navigation in the Reading Tab (Core5 and PowerUp): Educators using Core5 and PowerUp can now easily switch between students within the Reading tab using a dropdown class list or arrow navigation.
- Set a Default Class (Core5 and PowerUp): Teachers using Core5 and PowerUp can now set a default class to appear upon login. This enhancement enables quicker, more focused access to the student data that matters most.
Core5-Specific Enhancements in myLexia
See When Core5 Students Were Flagged for Instruction
In the Core5 Needs Instruction tab of the Class Action Plan, educators can now view the date each student was flagged. This added detail helps educators more effectively prioritise and plan timely interventions.
PowerUp-Specific Enhancements in myLexia
- Class-Level Student Activity Export With Skill Check Scores: A new export option in the Skills Status report lets teachers view all PowerUp activity data for their entire class in one place—including Skill Check scores—without needing to open individual student reports.
- PowerUp Certificates on Student Action Plan: Teachers can now access a student’s latest PowerUp certificates directly from the Student Action Plan, making it easier to recognise student success.
PowerUp Unit Goals and Usage Report Enhancements
Weekly unit goals have been added for students using PowerUp. Educators can now monitor student progress toward these goals in the Class Usage Report within myLexia. To support this, we’ve improved the report layout, making it easier to find key information at a glance. Updates include a clearer display of student usage and unit progress, now organised by strand.
Learn more about Lexia Core5 Reading and Lexia PowerUp Literacy by visiting our product pages
Reading Programmes for Primary Schools
Core5®
Reading Programmes for Primary Schools
A structured and adaptive literacy programme for primary schools. Developing reading skills from phonological awareness and phonics to SATS-ready comprehension skills. One solution – perfect for reading intervention in schools to support and encourage pupils of all ages and abilities.
Literacy Intervention for Secondary Schools
PowerUp®
Literacy Intervention for Secondary Schools
Bridging the gap from learning to read, to reading to learn – building missed early skills and advancing literacy for GCSE readiness and secondary school success
Your Personalised Educator Dashboard
myLexia™
Your Personalised Educator Dashboard
myLexia™ is your educator dashboard – designed to enhance literacy instruction through data-driven insights and personalised support. Built to work seamlessly with Lexia’s literacy programmes. With features like Assessment Without Testing® and a rich Resource Hub, myLexia helps schools save planning time, close learning gaps, and elevate student outcomes.
Our Star School for May is…
Launceston College, Cornwall!
We spoke to Zoe Brundell, English Teacher and Attainment & Intervention Lead, who shared how Launceston has embedded Lexia PowerUp Literacy into the timetable and created a culture of praise that keeps students motivated and on track.
How did you first come across the Lexia program and what led to the school’s final decision to purchase?
So we’ve had it for several years actually, but for a while, we weren’t really doing that much with it.
Then we decided maybe two or three years ago to give it a good go and in the last two, we’ve managed to convince leadership to dedicate the time needed to the programme to make it work.
We really liked the fact that it was student friendly. It’s not pitched too high and it looks like a game to them – so it’s fun! Since we’ve managed to convince everyone that it’s worth spending the time on the timetable, it’s taken off!
What do you feel makes Lexia stand apart from other reading skills software products on the market?
Firstly, the ease of use. The students can use it without much supervision. As teachers, we’re in the room giving lots of praise and deliver the skill builders. It’s student friendly – simple and straightforward for them to use by themselves.
It helps us support them with things that they are finding difficult. So when we go in and look at kind of the breakdowns in the back end, you can see where it is that they’re struggling or what they’re maybe of what trying to avoid doing.
It’s also great for just being able to give praise and celebrate those students who maybe don’t get that positive reinforcement as much. Because we award them for all sorts of things to do with Lexia, it’s just such a positive experience for them. They’re improving and they’re getting recognised for it. They’re often students that have struggled and not found much success in other places. So, to see it working with them and having evidence of that on the screen in front of them is really, really helpful and makes them feel good about themselves, their progress and their journey.
How is Lexia used in your school?
We select students to participate Lexia based on their reading age. They take a reading age test each year, and anyone significantly below their chronological age is selected for Lexia.
We timetable it so they have three hours a week on Lexia. Two of their English lessons are dedicated to Lexia, while the other two follow the normal curriculum. They also have one hour taken from their languages lessons—so instead of doing French or Spanish, they spend that time on Lexia as well. Our languages department has been incredibly supportive. They’ve said for a long time that if these students can’t access English properly, they’re going to struggle with French and Spanish too. So, they were keen to get involved and help support them in this way.
We’re very lucky to have those three hours, and it’s great that other departments support it too. It means students can meet a minimum of 90 minutes per week on the programme. Before this, we tried having just one hour in school and expecting them to do the rest at home, but students with lower reading ages often struggled to access it independently, even with incentives. But now, with the extra time and support from across the school, it’s working really well.
Describe the impact that Lexia has had on your pupils.
Yeah, many of them do make progress in their reading age by the end of the year. We haven’t done this year’s reading age test yet, but every year, we see improvements.
Even just in lessons with my own class, I can definitely see the difference. Their comprehension and decoding skills have improved. In our normal English lessons, we’re currently studying war poetry, and previously, we’ve read Animal Farm and other challenging texts. As the year goes on, they become much better at understanding difficult words and grasping the meaning of what they’re reading.
They struggle less with complex vocabulary because they’ve learned to break words down—looking at prefixes, suffixes, and understanding how words are structured. It’s nice to see that progress as a classroom teacher.
Even without this year’s reading age data, you can see their confidence growing in lessons. That shift in their ability and self-assurance over time is just lovely to see.
The Year 6s, where the format of the previous programme maybe wasn’t as mature for them. So, last year we decided to switch them over to PowerUp, and the difference has been incredible.
Can you give an example of a Lexia success that sticks out to you?
So far this year, we’ve actually had a couple of students who have already completed the whole programme and have been moved up sets. That was awesome, and amazing for them to see their own progress.
One of my Year 9s, in particular, has struggled with reading for a long time. He used to find it really difficult to get high streaks. As you know, streaks show when they’re getting consecutive answers right, and we reward students for streaks of 25 or more. He would often say, “Oh, I was almost there, but I lost it.”
But now, he’s frequently getting streaks in the hundreds! It’s been amazing to see his confidence grow—to see him getting more and more questions right and holding onto those streaks. From the start of the year to now, the progress is incredible.
How have you used rewards to motivate and celebrate success on the Lexia program?
We have these little praise postcards where we can write a message on the back, and they’re worth five praise points in our school system. Students get one of these if they manage to reach a streak of 25 or more during a lesson.
Sometimes, I turn it into a bit of a competition—who can get the highest streak in the lesson. It can get a little boisterous, but since it’s all about the work, that’s always a good thing!
After my implementation review the other day with LexiaUK, we’ve just introduced praise for units gained in a lesson as well. Now, whoever gains the most units in a lesson also gets a praise postcard. This has really encouraged students to stick with sections they find difficult. Before, they would sometimes jump between different sections to avoid getting stuck, but now they stay focused because they want to earn their praise postcards.
We also track how many minutes they complete each week. I export all the data, put it into a spreadsheet, and an admin assistant sends emails home. The top three students with the most minutes get a message congratulating them on their effort. We make it as encouraging and rewarding as we can.
How useful have you found the myLexia reports in terms of demonstrating progression and informing planning?
I usually use it to track minutes and make sure students are meeting the minimum of 90, because we know that if they reach that target, they’ll make the progress they need.
We also use it to monitor where they are in terms of progressing through the levels—from Foundation to Intermediate to Advanced—and to keep an eye on who’s close to finishing sections.
In the future, we hope to make more use of the Skill Builders and instructional resources that are generated. That’s something I’m working towards—maybe having a reading mentor or someone else in the room who could take a smaller group and focus on Skill Builders or targeted instruction. While we’d like to use the resources more, for now, we mainly focus on tracking progress through levels and ensuring students complete the minutes they need. Hopefully, we can expand this in the future.
What main piece of advice would you give to a school that was just getting started with Lexia?
The biggest thing is just praise—constant praise for anything and everything you can. If you can get students on board and excited about it, everything becomes so much easier.
The other key thing is making sure that everyone in the school understands the importance of reading. We’re very lucky here at Launceton because reading is a whole-school priority. We do lots of different things to promote it, like tutor reading in the mornings, so it’s a school-wide initiative. That’s made it much easier for me to get everyone on board with Lexia.
If you can create that culture, it helps secure time for students to actually use the programme. Without dedicated time, it just doesn’t work.
And finally, make sure those minutes are happening in school, ideally with support from the whole staff. If everyone recognises that reading and literacy are essential, and that this programme will support those skills, it makes a huge difference.
What feedback have you had from your Lexia pupils?
A lot of them have said it’s helped build their confidence. They feel more confident in class, more confident when reading, and more confident that they understand what’s happening when we read together. That’s always lovely to hear.
Some have said, “I understand more of what I’ve read,” or “I get why sentences are structured the way they are.”
And then, of course, a lot of them just say, “I really like it. It’s fun. I like seeing my streak. I like that I’m beating someone’s streak. I like winning my postcard.”
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I think the key over the last couple of years has been having backing from everyone across the college—our languages teachers, our senior leadership team—all working together to implement Lexia in the way we have.
That support has made the biggest difference, not just for the students, but for us as Lexia teachers and for me as a Lexia lead. Without it, we were struggling because we didn’t have the dedicated time, and the students weren’t always completing it at home independently. Not every child has the same level of access or support at home.
Knowing that we’re all working together has been the biggest factor in boosting Lexia attainment. You can see from everything we’ve achieved this year just how much of a difference it has made.
I’m grateful to everyone in the school for supporting the programme and, most importantly, for supporting our students. As we all know, GCSE papers require a reading age of 15+, so without these interventions, we would be letting our students down.
So, I’m just incredibly grateful to everyone for making the most of the time our students have with us and ensuring they get the support they need.
Finally, if you could describe Lexia in 3 words, what 3 words would you use?
I would say impactful, engaging, and, due to the fact that it gives me data on student progress, insightful.
Step into the Literacy Spotlight
Watch St Joseph’s Primary School in Action
At St Joseph’s Primary School in Islington, reading outcomes rank within the top 10% nationally. Lexia Core5 Reading has played a key role in helping their struggling readers, including those with SEND and EAL, improve their literacy skills.
By integrating Core5 into their morning reading interventions, the school has seen improved reading ability, confidence, and engagement among their students.
Lexia Core5 Reading – More School Success Stories
Learn from schools across the UK that have successfully implemented Lexia Core5 to boost reading attainment.
Oakwell Rise Primary School
How structured support improved SATs outcomes
At Oakwell Rise Academy, Lexia has become a key part of the school’s drive to boost reading confidence and SATs success. Targeted at pupils who are not yet working at year group expectations, Lexia is timetabled daily, beginning with morning sessions and extending to afternoon support, to ensure consistent, meaningful use. Its adaptive nature means every learner receives personalised reading instruction, whether developing foundational phonics or tackling higher-level comprehension skills critical for SATs.
Staff have seen measurable gains, particularly in Year 6 reading progress from autumn to spring, with pupils independently accelerating through units and celebrating their success with pride. With intuitive data tracking via myLexia and regular celebration of achievements through assemblies, rewards, and home-school communication, Lexia is not only helping pupils achieve academically but also growing their confidence, independence, and motivation to succeed.
Herne Junior School
From struggling readers to confident learners
At Herne Junior School in Hampshire, Lexia has become a cornerstone of additionalsupport for struggling readers, transforming them into confident, motivated learners. Led by SEN Assistant and Lexia Coordinator Lynne Tandy, the school has embedded Lexia into a structured, daily routine—starting each morning with engaging sessions that combine literacy learning with a sense of community and celebration.
By using Lexia consistently and creatively, through targeted in-class support, home learning encouragement, or early-morning breakfast sessions, Herne Junior School ensures every child is given the chance to succeed. The program’s ability to plug foundational gaps, boost self-esteem, and show measurable progress has been key to this success. Pupils now arrive eager to participate, motivated by visible achievement, thoughtful rewards, and a school-wide culture that values their effort.
With insightful use of myLexia reports and a whole-school commitment, Herne has turned literacy intervention into a joyful and empowering journey for its learners.
Chipping Ongar Primary School
The measurable impact of Lexia’s adaptive intervention
At Chipping Ongar Primary School, Lexia has become key to their approach to literacy development, delivering measurable impact across key stages. Guided by HLTA Stacy Saddington and SEN TA Kate Crook, the school has embedded Lexia into daily routines with flexible timetabling and a clear focus on progress.
Staff have seen a transformation in pupil motivation and attainment, especially among Year 6 learners using Lexia PowerUp to build confidence in grammar, comprehension, and word study ahead of SATs. The school credits Lexia’s adaptive nature, engaging content, and powerful myLexia data reports for enabling targeted interventions and celebrating both big milestones and small wins.
From improved phonological awareness in younger pupils to older learners proudly completing the programme, Lexia has empowered Chipping Ongar’s children to take ownership of their learning and achieve lasting literacy success.
Request Your Free Trial Today
Join the growing number of schools seeing real literacy progress with Lexia. We’re offering a free 30-day evaluation so you can experience the transformative power of our program first-hand.
Fill in the form below and a member of our team will be in touch.
Watch Morton Academy in Action
At LexiaUK, we believe that every student has the potential to succeed when equipped with the right tools. Morton Academy is a shining example of what’s possible when educators are empowered with Lexia PowerUp Literacy.
Lexia PowerUp Literacy – More School Success Stories
Learn from schools across the UK that have successfully implemented Lexia PowerUp to boost literacy attainment.
Theale Green School
How structured support improved GCSE outcomes
At Theale Green School, Lexia has transformed literacy support into a structured, data-informed, and highly motivating journey that is directly contributing to improved GCSE outcomes. Faced with rising literacy needs and limited intervention capacity, the school introduced Lexia to deliver tailored, high-impact support for a growing number of students—particularly those with SEND or in receipt of Pupil Premium.
Since implementation, Lexia has enabled staff to triple the number of students receiving individualised literacy intervention while tracking progress with precision. Pupils’ confidence has flourished, and sustained Lexia use is helping bridge critical gaps in phonics, grammar, and comprehension—skills essential for accessing the wider curriculum and succeeding in English at GCSE.
The school’s whole-staff approach, including collaboration with the English department, has embedded Lexia into daily routines, resulting in higher motivation, measurable progress, and students walking into lessons ready to engage.
The Compton School
Promoting secondary curriculum readiness
At The Compton School in London, Lexia has become a powerful tool in improving literacy outcomes, particularly in supporting students to achieve stronger results at GCSE. Introduced as part of a whole-school reading strategy, Lexia was implemented to target the bottom 20% of readers in Key Stage 3. Assistant Headteacher Emily Walker-Nolan and Lexia Lead Deeya Sharma have embedded the programme into the school’s culture through structured routines, including breakfast clubs, transition initiatives, and personal development time, ensuring pupils achieve the recommended usage each week.
The adaptive nature of Lexia has enabled students to close individual reading gaps efficiently, with clear links between engagement and accelerated reading progress—one pupil even gaining nearly four years in reading age. The school has seen a 20% uplift in the number of students reaching the expected reading benchmark, a testament to Lexia’s role in supporting GCSE readiness.
With robust use of data through myLexia, personalised interventions, and creative reward systems, The Compton School continues to position its most vulnerable readers for long-term success.
Upton-by-Chester High School
The measurable impact of Lexia on reading ages
At Upton-by-Chester High School, Lexia has been key to the school’s literacy intervention strategy, helping students make measurable, meaningful progress in reading. With a clear focus on supporting learners who fall just below age-related expectations, Lexia was chosen for its student-led, highly targeted approach, allowing pupils to work independently on their specific areas of need. The school’s structured model, backed by regular assessment and robust pastoral support, ensures consistent engagement and visible outcomes.
Pupils in Years 7 and 8 benefit from two hours of dedicated Lexia time each week, supported by a thoughtfully developed rewards system that has transformed intervention into a space for celebration and growth. As a result, students have seen reading age increases of up to two years within a single academic year—an achievement the school attributes to sustained engagement and Lexia’s accessible, confidence-building format.
Request Your Free Trial Today
Join the growing number of schools seeing real literacy progress with Lexia. We’re offering a free 30-day evaluation so you can experience the transformative power of our program first-hand.
Simply fill in the form below and a dedicated member of our team will be in touch to get you started!
Introducing The Big LexiaUK Survey 2025!
“How do other schools implement Lexia?”
It’s one of the most common questions we hear from schools—and now, we want to hear directly from you.
Take part in The Big Lexia Survey 2025 to share how your school has been using Lexia this year—and help us better understand what’s working, where extra support is needed, and how we can improve our guidance, training, and resources to help you get the most from your programme.
Whether it’s your approach to targeting, timetabling, or tracking progress, your feedback will help shape the future of Lexia support across the UK.
And as a thank you, you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win £250 of National Book Tokens for your school library.
Join the conversation and help strengthen the LexiaUK community—one voice at a time.
Click below to take part. It only takes 15 minutes, but your insights will make a lasting impact.
Giveaway Rules
- Only one entry per person.
- Entrants from the UK and Ireland only.
- Entrants must be teaching staff in a school that is a current customer of LexiaUK.
- We are unable to accept entries from anyone connected with any schools participating in empirical studies relating to Lexia, such as the ongoing study from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).
- Winner will be selected using a random number generator and checks to ensure all entry requirements are satisfied will take place until an eligible winner is chosen.
- Prize will only be sent to a school email address. Winner must provide a valid school email address upon selection for prize to be delivered.
- Winner will be notified by email where email address will be confirmed for prize delivery. A follow up phone call to the school will be made in a further attempt to make contact. If no response in received within 7 days of initial contact, the prize will be withdrawn and a new winner selected.
- All entry requirements must be satisfied for successful entry into the prize draw.
- Giveaway submissions will be accepted between 1st May 2025 at 8:30am and 25th July 2025 at 4:00pm after which a winner will be selected. We cannot accept entries submitted after this time.
- Winner will be announced from 1st September 2025.
- In the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond reasonable control, LexiaUK reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the competition or these terms and conditions, either in whole or in part, with or without notice.
Giveaway Entry Requirements
To Enter, participants must:
- Complete The Big Lexia Survey 2025.
- Provide contact details at the end of the survey.
- Be a member of staff at a school that is currently a LexiaUK customer.