Mossbourne Herd Lane Academy Celebrates Record-Breaking Phonics Success
There were celebrations across Mossbourne Herd Lane Academy this week as pupils achieved the school’s best-ever phonics results, with an outstanding 95.3% of Year 1 children meeting the expected standard in the 2026 Phonics Screening Check.
The result means that all but two Year 1 pupils successfully reached this important national reading milestone, placing the school significantly above last year’s national average of 79%.
The exceptional achievement forms part of another landmark year for the school, which has also celebrated record-breaking Early Years Good Level of Development (GLD) outcomes and excellent Year 2 attainment, reflecting the school’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that every child achieves their very best.
Reading sits at the heart of the curriculum at Mossbourne Herd Lane Academy. From the moment children join the school, they benefit from high-quality phonics teaching, daily reading practice and carefully planned intervention tailored to individual needs. Staff provide personalised support through precision teaching, small-group tuition and breakfast booster clubs, ensuring that every child receives the help they need to become a confident, fluent reader.
The school also believes that recognising success motivates children to aim even higher. Throughout the year, pupils are rewarded with certificates, badges, stars and celebration assemblies to acknowledge their hard work and achievements. This week, Reception and Year 2 pupils proudly celebrated their own milestones by graduating in special ceremonies with their families.
A special congratulations goes to Charlie Hughes, who was awarded the school’s Phonics Trophy in recognition of the exceptional progress he has made in reading and phonics this year.
Headteacher Mrs Karina Garrick said:
“I am incredibly proud of our children and staff. To achieve 95.3% in the Phonics Screening Check is a remarkable accomplishment and reflects the relentless commitment of everyone at Mossbourne Herd Lane Academy. Year after year, our phonics results continue to improve, alongside achievement across the whole school.
Last year’s national average was 79%, so to achieve over 95% is something everyone should be immensely proud of. It doesn’t happen by chance. It is the result of expert teaching, personalised support, dedicated staff who willingly run breakfast booster clubs, and a relentless focus on ensuring every child gets what they need to succeed.
Learning to read opens the door to every other area of the curriculum. We are determined that every child leaves our school as a confident reader with the skills and self-belief to flourish.”
Mrs Garrick also thanked the school’s staff and families for their continued partnership, recognising that the outstanding results are the product of strong relationships between home and school, high expectations and a shared ambition for every child.
With record-breaking outcomes across Early Years, Key Stage 1 and phonics, Mossbourne Herd Lane Academy continues to demonstrate its commitment to excellence, ensuring that every child is given the strongest possible start to their education and every opportunity to succeed.
