Teaching Handwriting

I’m a parent not a teacher but DS1 is now 16 in GCSE year, is very academically able (predicted mostly 8s) but has appalling handwriting.

His brother who is Yr5 has benefited from the more recent focus on handwriting in primary school and has lovely, clear consistent and most importantly legible handwriting.

I am concerned that it could affect the outcome of his exams, he could write incredible content but if it is a mess or difficult to read it won’t help.

If there had been some re-focus such as you are suggesting in Yr7 or 8 I would have really appreciated it. We did try at home but to no avail. If anyone has any suggestions or tricks that have worked I’d love to hear about them, I don’t know if it is something that can change after a certain point?

You're probably right GrammarTeacher I could give you plenty of ideas that work in primary such as daily handwriting practice, fine motor control exercises, issuing of 'pen licences' but I'm not so sure they would go down so well with Y7 & 8s.It might be worth working with the local feeder schools on it.

Handwriting is awful in our school too. So following for advice. I suspect the issue we may have is that people see it as an English Teacher thing and 'not their concern'.

Is this going to be a whole school policy because it will require constant reinforcement at their age. There are plenty of YouTube videos demonstrating cursive handwriting so you need to pick a style and stick with it. I am surprised that there are so many Y7 and 8s with the problem because in the last few years primaries have focused on the standards of handwriting.

Yeah it's a huge problem for me too (secondary English). A lot of my students have terrible pen grip but it's too late to correct it. I have no suggestions but will be following!