Introduction Literacy, in Curriculum for Excellence, is defined as: “the set of skills which allow an individual to engage fully in society and in learning, through the different forms of language, and the range of texts, which society values and finds useful.” (Education Scotland, 2009b, p. 3) The literacy framework has three elements: listening and talking, reading and writing. These skills, alongside numeracy and health and wellbeing, sit at the heart of Scotland’s curriculum as the foundations of the knowledge, skills and attributes which equip children and young people for learning, life and work. The Final Report of the EU High Level Group of Experts on Literacy (European Commission, 2012) identifies improvement in literacy as essential to greater economic prosperity, social cohesion and the improved wellbeing and participation of all citizens. In Scotland, we recognise that levels of literacy are closely linked to children’s and young people’s overall achievement in school and their life chances. This fundamental principle has led to a stronger focus in Scottish education on developing literacy skills from 3 to 18 with the aim of raising attainment, reducing inequity, and improving life chances and employment prospects. The requirement that all teachers in Scotland develop young people’s literacy skills pre-empts the recommendation of the EU High level Group of Experts on Literacy to adopt a coherent literacy curriculum and make every teacher a teacher of literacy. This article explores how policy translates into practice in Scotland’s upper secondary curriculum and the impact this is having on young people’s learning and achievements. It describes how schools are developing literacy strategies that ensure a whole school commitment to raising levels of achievement in literacy. Throughout the article case studies illustrate the implementation of policy in different secondary schools. These case studies have been identified from inspection and review activities carried out by Education Scotland HM Inspectors.

Education Scotland (2009b). Literacy and English: principles and practice paper. Retrieved from http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/Images/literacy_english_principles_practice_tcm4-540165.pdf European Commission (2012). EU High Level Group of Experts on Literacy on Literacy Final Report, September 2012. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.