Schools often begin a literacy pilot with broad intentions and unclear review criteria. That makes it hard to know whether the pilot worked, what should happen next, and whether a rollout conversation is justified. A better pilot starts with a short, practical review framework agreed in advance.
1. Starting point
Review the cohort baseline before the pilot begins. Which pupils are included? What is their current reading position? What concerns led the school to include them? If the starting point is vague, the final review will be vague too.
2. Completion over time
Completion matters because intervention only works if pupils actually do the work. Review whether tasks were started, how consistently they were completed, and where completion fell away. This often tells you as much as attainment data during a short pilot window.
3. Engagement patterns
Look beyond simple participation. Were some tasks easier to start than others? Did certain pupils need repeated prompting? Did engagement improve when the presentation felt more age-appropriate? These patterns help schools judge fit, not just output.
4. Next-step decisions
A useful pilot ends with a decision, not just a report. Schools should be able to say one of four things clearly:
- Widen rollout to a larger group
- Continue with the same cohort for longer
- Adjust the approach before extending
- Stop and review a different intervention path
A simple pilot review checklist
- Who started where?
- What was actually completed?
- What changed in engagement?
- What should the school do next?