Primary Literacy: Research and Practice

Primary literacy is a subject surrounded by high-profile debates about policy and practice, but these are not always sufficiently informed by research evidence. In his lecture, Roger Beard traces the historical development of policy and practice in areas such as reading development, phonics, and writing, and pinpoints interdisciplinary research as the key to addressing complex educational issues that transcend the conceptual reach of a single discipline. Attention to the values of systematic enquiry, he argues, will enhance teacher professionalism and make critical improvements to teaching effectiveness.