Cornerstone C of E Primary School is a wonderful Phonics Shed and Spelling Shed Showcase School based in Fareham, Hampshire. We spoke to them to find out the impact that EdShed has had at their school.
We are a rapidly growing primary school, set to become a full three-form entry institution. Currently, we have approximately 400 pupils on roll, with capacity to expand to 650 students in the near future.
As a Microsoft Showcase School and an active member of the Hampshire EdTech Hub, we are deeply committed to leveraging technology to enhance teaching, learning, and operational efficiency.
Our school regularly hosts both in-person and virtual events to support educators in integrating digital tools into their practice. These initiatives aim to improve workload management and enrich the educational experience for students. As such, a robust and high-speed broadband connection is essential to sustain and grow our digital infrastructure.
Phonics Shed offers a dynamic and inclusive systematic synthetic phonics scheme that stands out for its multidisciplinary approach, integrating characters, songs and actions to enrich children’s learning experiences. Its vibrant and engaging design, filled with colourful characters and stories, captivates young learners and makes phonics fun and accessible for all. The platform supports educators with online tools that track assessment progress, enabling targeted interventions and personalised learning pathways.
Regular training ensures staff are confident and up-to-date, while leaders benefit from strategic support and clear data insights. Importantly, Phonics Shed listens to user feedback, continuously evolving to meet the needs of diverse classrooms and fostering a collaborative educational environment. The impact has been positive and those learners who have been on the journey from Early Years perform well in the phonics screening check.
We have been impressed with Spelling Shed’s ability to make spelling practice both enjoyable and effective for our students. The platform’s engaging games and activities captivate students’ interest, transforming the learning experience into an exciting one. We are able to personalise spelling lists for groups and individuals, which is very helpful. It provides us with useful assessments we can use to tailor our lessons and planning.
Additionally, Spelling Shed’s adaptive learning feature ensures that each student is challenged at an appropriate level, fostering continuous improvement. Since integrating Spelling Shed into our curriculum, we have observed an improvement in our students’ spelling proficiency. The regular practice and immediate feedback provided by the platform have enhanced students’ confidence in their writing abilities. It means there is greater consistency across the school and we can use it for home learning effectively. Overall, Spelling Shed has become an invaluable tool.