GENERAL NEWS NEWS... Lexonik supporting literacy efforts in Northern Ireland
As Northern Ireland faces urgent literacy challenges, a UK education company is stepping in with transformational results. Based in Middlesbrough, Lexonik delivers award-winning literacy intervention programmes that are producing remarkable results. It was created by former teacher and dyslexia specialist Katy Parkinson, inspired by the learning barriers she saw firsthand in North East classrooms.
Students who complete the company’s flagship six-week programme see their reading age improve by an average of 27 months - after just six one-hour sessions. These results are helping young people overcome learning barriers and unlock their full potential.
Lexonik’s solution bridges the gap between targeted intervention and everyday classroom practice. Its structured, evidence-based training equips teachers with clear, effective strategies that focus on phonology, reading fluency, and etymology.
Lexonik’s work is especially timely in Northern Ireland, where literacy challenges are growing. According to the National Literacy Trust, 17.4% of adults have very poor literacy skills, and only 34.6% of children read for pleasure - the lowest rate in nearly 20 years.
In response, Education Minister Paul Givan launched the Strategy for Education Excellence in March 2025 - a 10-point plan aimed at strengthening classroom resources, improving literacy, and raising standards.
Supporting this initiative, Lexonik will host a key event this May, at St Catherine’s College in Armagh, where the programme has already shown strong success.
English Teacher Helen Donnelly from St Catherine’s College said: “As an all-ability school, we often have a small group of students who enter secondary education without the literacy skills needed to access the curriculum.
I knew we needed explicit phonics instruction, but most primary resources weren’t suitable for older learners. That’s when I discovered Lexonik through social media. Their programme offered exactly what I was looking for, along with the training I couldn’t find elsewhere. We were the first school in Northern Ireland to adopt Lexonik. The results were immediate: students made years of reading progress in just a few months. We’ve since expanded our use of Lexonik, including Lexonik Leap and the Vocabulary programme.”
Academy21 to launch Key Stage 2 provision for next academic year
Academy21, leading, DfE-accredited provider of online alternative provision (AP) education, has announced the launch of its Key Stage 2 provision. These courses will be available for Years 5 and 6 in the upcoming 2025-2026 academic year.
The expansion of Academy21’s services to schools and local authorities builds on its established provision and support for Key Stages 3 and 4. It directly responds to the increasing demand for flexible, cost-effective, and high-quality alternative education solutions.
Based on government data, in 2024, over 1.6 million pupils in the UK were identified as having a Special Educational Need (SEN), representing a 6.3% increase from the previous year.
Currently, persistent absence in primary aged students sits at 14.1% and research indicates that 1 in 5 children in England face mental health difficulties causing them to miss school. The support of trusted alternative provision specialists for schools has never been more crucial. Academy21’s Key Stage 2 provision will be available to Year 5 and 6 students. It offers dedicated Reading, Writing, and Math courses taught by experienced, qualified class teachers. The holistic curriculum will also include PSHE, wellbeing, and oracy.
All online classes are live and interactive, delivered five days a week and
available throughout the academic year. The lessons can be incorporated with schools’ internal provisions, so students remain connected to their school while accessing a high-quality education in a focused environment. This also allows school leaders to create flexible timetables. Small group classes and opportunities for engagement (from interactive activities to circle time) will keep students engaged in the lesson content, with sessions ordered into short, interactive chunks.
In addition, all course information is available via the Academy21 platform and Mentor Hub, which is updated after every lesson. There are also regular reports so that schools can effectively monitor progress. Much like Key Stages 3 and 4, the Key Stage 2 curriculum will be offered in various solutions, from short-term circuit-break support to in-house provision, ensuring that every student gets the support they need, when needed. The aim, as always, is to build confidence and support reintegration. Alessandro Capozzi, Executive Headteacher of Academy21, says: “Our dedicated team of experienced educators is excited to welcome our new students, with a curriculum that not only meets academic standards but also fosters their personal growth and wellbeing. We look forward to working closely with our partners to make a positive impact on the educational journeys and confidence of young learners.”
JK Educate becomes Dukes Tutoring
Leading education consultancy and tutoring provider JK Educate will now be operating as Dukes Tutoring. This new name reflects the organisation’s close alignment with Dukes Education, the prestigious education group it joined in 2022, while reaffirming its commitment to delivering exceptional tutoring and guidance to clients in the UK and around the globe. Founded in 2010, JK Educate was created to provide expert advice and high-quality tutoring for families navigating an increasingly complex education system. Over the years, the consultancy has built a strong reputation for excellence, helping students excel across the curriculum, whether that be school entrance exams, GCSEs, or A-levels.
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As the tuition arm of Dukes Education, Dukes Tutoring benefits from the expertise of an international education group whose schools span nine countries, and are attended by over 21,000 students. It is also part of the Dukes Plus family of businesses which includes InvestIN, Active Education Group, Oxbridge Applications and The Medic Portal.
Tania Virdie, Head of JK Educate, and an experienced senior leader within the organisation, continues to lead Dukes Tutoring: “Our new name, Dukes Tutoring, better reflects our position within the Dukes Education family, but our mission remains the same.”
May 2025
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