Strong Foundations, Exceptional Outcomes: How Our Child-Centred Approach Delivers Outstanding Academic Results
Can a school achieve exceptional academic outcomes without assessing children before they join at 4+?
At Devonshire House, we believe the answer is ‘yes’.
Rather than selecting pupils through a 4+ assessment, we welcome children with a wide range of experiences and interests, placing our trust in exceptional teaching, carefully planned learning and nurturing every child’s potential.
This philosophy is reflected in our latest Lower School outcomes.
Outstanding Academic Results
Reception
- 30% of pupils are six months ahead in phonics*
- 60% exceed age-related expectations in reading
- Over 80% are working above the expected level in mathematics
Year 1
- More than 60% are working above expected levels in phonics
- 25% achieve Greater Depth in reading**
- Nearly 50% achieve Greater Depth in spelling**
- Over 40% achieve Greater Depth in mathematics**
What do these results mean?
*Being six months ahead in phonics means that a child is demonstrating reading and sound-recognition skills typically expected around six months later in their educational journey. Developing these skills early supports confident reading, writing and communication across the curriculum.
**Achieving Greater Depth means that pupils have gone beyond meeting the expected standard for their age and are among the 20% highest-perfoming pupils nationally. They are able to apply their knowledge independently, solve more complex problems and demonstrate a deeper understanding of what they have learned.
The Impact of Read Write Inc.
A key factor behind these outcomes has been the successful implementation of the Read Write Inc. programme from Nursery through to Year 2.
Read Write Inc. is one of the UK’s most widely recognised and evidence-based literacy programmes. Developed by literacy expert Dame Ruth Miskin, it is used in thousands of schools across the country to help children become fluent readers, confident writers and enthusiastic learners. The programme combines systematic synthetic phonics with carefully structured reading, writing and language activities, enabling children to build confidence and make rapid progress.
Combined with outstanding teaching and a consistent whole-school approach, the programme provides children with the strong foundations they need to become confident, fluent readers. Every member of our Lower School team, including our Learning Support Assistants and SEN team, is fully trained to deliver the programme, ensuring every child benefits from the same high-quality teaching and support.
Ambitious, Inclusive and Child-Centred
These outcomes reinforce the concept that is at the core of our ethos: outstanding academic achievement does not stem from selecting children before they start school.
Instead, it comes from knowing every one of our children as individuals, providing expert teaching from the earliest years and creating an environment where children are supported, challenged and inspired to achieve their very best.
At Devonshire House, we are proud to show that it is possible to be child-led and academically ambitious, and that these values work hand in hand to produce remarkable outcomes.