We support students with their reading by:

• Ensuring students have opportunities to read in English lessons as part of our mastery curriculum
• Using our tutors as role models to express enthusiasm and passion for reading
• Every tutor group (Year 7 -11) having three tutor times per week dedicated to reading
• Using data from reading assessments at key transition points to identify students who need additional reading support – this could be buddy reading for example.
• Providing literacy boosting support for struggling readers through our Oasis support team
  Supporting and training teachers to effectively use reading data and apply that to their subject specialism

World Book Day 4th March 2021

We have a number of exciting activities going on for World Book Day including lots of at home activities. During English lessons on the day teachers will be sharing reading recommendations and broadening student awareness of different titles they might like to read.

Follow us on social media for quizzes and recommendations throughout the day.

For ideas to complete at home please see below.

'I wonder' reading project - Key Stage 3

We are introducing a project called ‘I wonder…’ which is aimed to support students by providing them with short stories that will work alongside their subjects in developing their reading ability, comprehension skills and greater understanding of the world around them. Stories are of increasing challenge up to a reading age of 16 years. As your child progresses to increase their ability and confidence with reading short stories and later in the project, an extensive range of novels.

Each short story has comprehension questions and tasks to complete leading up to a final, greater ‘I wonder…’ question where students are encouraged to think about the greater topics and issues within the story and the world around them.

Students that actively engage and take part with this project, reading the short stories made available and completing the tasks, will be entered in to a prize draw to congratulate them on their participation and their enthusiasm for reading a range of texts.

To take part, all information including the texts can be found here. Students will need to log in using their school Microsoft Office 365 account.

Read along novels - Key Stage 4

Our staff have been reading. We thought we would share our reading through our collective effort to read aloud 1984 by George Orwell. Students are invited to read along as they listen to staff take a chapter each. Ms Henderson, our literacy across the curriculum coordinator, took the lead with chapter 1. The text can be found digitally here.

Log in here to continue listening to the rest of the novel read by our staff.

Poetry

We have also been exploring poetry. Listen to poems being read by Ms Daniel here.

Thinking of taking A Level English Literature or Language?

See the recommended reading list to get you started with your summer reading- found here.

You can support your child with reading by:

• Encouraging your child to read a selection of fiction and non-fiction texts
• Encouraging your child to make predictions about the book they are reading
• Take them to local libraries or bookshops and encourage them to select books they are interested in
• Ensure your child’s book is appropriate for their ability - too challenging will put them off and too easy may not be rewarding
• Read yourself. It is helpful if children see their parents reading
• Audio books could be used to help create interest in an author and improve creativity and imagination
• Use appropriate vocabulary to express views on the text e.g. plot, setting, mood and character
• Identify language devices a writer uses e.g. adjectives, similes and metaphors
• Research the context of the novel e.g. World War Two, the Victorian era or a particular culture or country

Free reading resources online

The Day - a free daily topical newsletter for parents. It provides a brief guide to one of the day’s most stimulating debates, with a summary of the news story and the different sides that people are taking. They select links to the best of the highest quality journalism available in the world so that, if you’re interested in current affairs, you will always have something to enrich your day. Especially useful to help students prepare for GCSE English Language.

Planet ebook - this site provides free pdf copies of classic texts. With 82 titles available including H.G Wells, Dickens and Tolstoy plus many more.

Audible audiobooks - This website provides a number of freely accessible audiobooks. It is suitable for many ages but the linked section is for teens.

Virtual School Library with Oak National Academy -  in partnership with the National Literacy Trust. Every week a popular children's author or illustrator will provide you with free books, exclusive videos and their top three recommended reads.