INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH

Th e Fast-track Phonics course incorporates the synthetic phonics method made compulsory by the UK Department of Education in 2007. It teaches children to learn or improve their English pronunciation, spelling, reading and writing, in a systematic way.

1

A 7-year trial of 300 children in the UK revealed that at the end of Primary 7, those taught by the synthetic phonics method were 3 years 6 months ahead of chronological age in word reading, 1 year 8 months ahead in spelling, and 3.5 months ahead in reading  comprehension.

2

In 2012, the UK government set a national benchmark for literacy for children aged 6. Following a national literacy campaign in England, centred on synthetic phonics teaching, there was an increase in children achieving the benchmark, as illustrated in the chart below.