What is Talk for Writing?
Talk for Writing is an engaging teaching framework developed by Pie Corbett, supported by Julia Strong and the Talk for Writing team. It is powerful because it is based on the principles of how children learn. It enables children to imitate the language they need for a particular topic orally, before reading and analysing it, and then writing their own version. An overview of the approach can be seen here.
Does Talk for Writing work?
Quite reasonably, teachers often ask, 'Is Talk for Writing effective?' Since 2016 when the new SATs came into place, we have been analysing the data from our 16 training centres and comparing our standards with the national picture. We know that the centres are faithful to the approach and so we can see the impact of Talk for Writing and Talk for Reading by comparison with the rest of the country.
Our schools are almost all in challenging areas. We do have one small village school and one large town school where pupil premium and free school meals are low. However, the other 14 schools serve deprived areas where the challenges are great. St Matthews in Birmingham, for instance, has 88% pupil premium. The data shows that on average our schools have 32% pupil premium which is above the national average of 23%. The percentage of children for whom English is an additional language is 42% whereas nationally it stands at just over 21%. Interestingly, the percentage of pupils with special needs is only slightly above the national average (16% compared to a national figure of 14.6%). We believe that this is because where schools have a well-developed, systematic, coherent and cumulative curriculum, the number of children who struggle is reduced.
So, what is the impact? How effective is Talk for Writing? The data from the last four years can be viewed here. You can see comparable data from 2016 as well as the three-year average. The data shows that Talk for Writing schools, despite serving more challenging areas, attain at a significantly higher standard than the national average. The data demonstrates that since 2016, there has been an improving picture and the impact is not just in writing. Our schools use the teaching approaches in all subjects. Children are taught the language structures they need to think and express themselves as mathematicians, scientists and historians. Our schools use the core direct teaching strategies around well-defined, cumulative curriculum, informed by formative assessment.
Our targets for the coming years will be to strengthen reading and writing at greater depth, to focusing on those not yet attaining the expected standard and to strengthen the percentage of children attaining the expected standard across the board. At the same time, we are strengthening our work in other subjects.
Do work with our trainers, visit our centres and read the various books, it will all have a positive impact on teaching, but also be aware that to raise standards in a school requires time, leadership and commitment. It cannot just be done through one day of inset training. For this reason, we are increasingly working with schools on two-year projects. Working with committed schools on developing and embedding Talk for Writing over time is what leads to effective change, higher standards and improved progress.
Pie Corbett
Academic research related to Talk for Writing
Talk for Writing: Review of related research
A research review of Talk for Writing by Roger Beard, Emeritus Professor at the Institute of Education. This looks at the research that underpins the Talk for Writing process. In this, the Primary Writing Project, which was a two year cluster approach to establishing Talk for Writing in groups of schools, is referred to (2015). Download here.
Rosenshine’s 10 Principles of Instruction and TfW
How Rosenshine’s 10 Principles of Instruction have long been embedded within Talk for Writing Download here.
Developing a communication supporting classrooms observation tool
A Department for Education research report which covers most of the underlying aspects for Early Years on developing communication. At the back there is an observation tool and all the research references (2012). Download here.
Evaluation report of the Strategic School Improvement Fund programme for Early Years, featuring Talk for Writing
Evaluation of two Strategic School Improvement Fund (SSIF) supported projects, Communication and Language and Talk and Writing, in Warrington Teaching Schools Alliance schools. This work was delivered as a commission by HASCE and researched by the University of Cumbria (2019). Download here.
Children's cognitive development and learning
A Cambridge Primary Review Trust report by Usha Goswami with comments on imitation (2015). Download here.
Principal’s Sabbatical Report: Christopher Fox
Research and analysis into the impact of the Talk for Writing programme with a view to raising writing achievement across the curriculum (2017). Download here.
Final Dissertation: Cristina Serrabassa Parramon, Central University of Catalonia
The Talk for Writing method and its impact on pupil results (2019). Download here.
Final Dissertation: Mireia Guiteras Folgarolas, Central University of Catalonia
Analysis of the use and impact of the Talk for Writing methodology in Heath Mount Primary School, Birmingham (2019). Download here.
Transforming Writing Final Evaluation Report
This was a research project that looked at the role of formative assessment within Talk for Writing (2013). Download here.
Time to Talk: Implementing Outstanding Practice in Speech, Language and Communication
An accessible book that covers much of the research and refers to Talk for Writing. By Jean Gross CBE who was the UK government's former Communications Champion and has led many national initiatives aimed at improving children and young people's life chances, including the National Strategies' work on inclusion, SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning), and the Every Child a Reader and Every Child Counts programmes. She is the author of numerous articles and best-selling books on children's issues, including Beating Bureaucracy in Special Educational Needs. Purchase here.
Rosenshine's Principles in Action
Barak Rosenshine's original paper Principles of Instruction (2010), published by the International Academy of Education (IAE), has a superb worldwide reputation for relating research findings to classroom practice. Tom Sherrington adds a clear and practical commentary (2019). Pie says: "This little book is about the research-based principles of effective teaching. It is brief, easy to read and clearly sets out the core practices. When I read it, I realised that all of them underpin Talk for Writing and Reading and can be applied and developed in any school. A little gem." Purchase here.
Talk for Writing in the Early Years
Chapter 1 (p3-17) of this Talk for Writing core text by Pie Corbett and Julia Strong is entitled The centrality of story and the origins of Talk for Writing and looks at how and why Talk for Writing was founded. Purchase here.
"Our direct experience tells us that TfW is an incredibly powerful teaching and learning toolkit, that develops students’ metacognitive toolkit, as well as their oracy and their writing skills. Most importantly, our students tell us time and again that it really helps, and their improving rates of progress show us that this is indeed the case. As a National Leader of Education said on a recent visit to JOG, the effect on a school that truly embraces and embeds the TfW approach can be 'transformational'."Louise Hamilton, deputy head at John of Gaunt School
“I’m asked many times, “Can this work in my school?” Well, yes, it can. If it can work with a catchment in a deprived area, then why can it not work anywhere? We know and feel we are doing things right for the children, giving them the best experiences, through a creative curriculum that inspires them to be amazing writers. If you are thinking about Talk for Writing as an option for your school, my advice would be to go and see the results, create an action plan and be determined that it will work by ensuring there are no obstacles to achieving success.”Ian Clennan, headteacher of Selby Community Primary School
“All members of staff have been excited by what their classes have produced in their writing in only our first year of using Talk for Writing as a whole-school strategy. In many cases, our children have achieved beyond what is expected, in terms of data and pupil engagement in English lessons and are increasingly able to transfer their knowledge to other areas of the curriculum. “I don’t know what to write, Miss …” has become a phrase from the past!"Liz Martin, Talk for Writing Project Leader, East Hunsbury Primary School
“Just thought I would offer a quick update. As planned, we are continuing to reinforce the strategies that you brought to us and ensuring that strategies are implemented across the school. During a recent LA review, the renewed and consistent focus on literacy was highlighted as much improved practice. Thanks again – you have left us with a strong legacy.”Deputy Headteacher, Whitehaven
“Previously we did lots of speaking and listening but it didn’t seem to emerge in the writing. The Talk for Writing techniques really motivated the children. Now they automatically read what they have written and discuss whether it sounds good. It has transformed the way they write.”Leading teacher from Primary National Strategy Talk for Writing project primarysay
“Talk for Writing is a whole-school philosophy to teaching and learning that will catalyse improvement and raise aspirations across the school. Its impact is felt in every area of the school from the humdrum of the school's data to the vibrancy of the learning environments, excitement in the classroom atmosphere and the tangible buzz in the staff-room and renewed enthusiasm for a profession and moral purpose we all believe in passionately.” James Munt, Executive Headteacher, Front Lawn Academy, Havant