In recent times, the education system has seen considerable change: the introduction of reformed GCSE specifications, the abolition of Key Stage 3 National Curriculum levels and increased levels of challenge embedded across all subjects. However, the development of life-long literacy skills and an enjoyment of reading remains central to a young person’s chances of success in life.
At the Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst, we want our young people to be challenged and supported in the development of literacy as part of their journey through the education system. All of our teachers are teachers of literacy and we actively promote an engagement with literacy across the curriculum. We are committed to raising not only the profile of reading, but encouraging students’ enjoyment of reading throughout all aspects of the curriculum. We know that an importance placed on improving students’ reading and literacy skills is crucial in not only allowing students to access the learning in their lessons, but to equip them with the tools needed to become independent learners with inquisitive minds.
The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.
There is no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who have not found the right book.
The Literacy Team for the academic year 2015 – 2016 is as follows:
Chris Curran
Charlotte Murray
Jennifer Lawton
Nick Spark
How will the Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst support students?
Everyone Reading in Class (ERIC)
Students in KS3 are invited to spend some quality time dropping their pens to simply read for at least one hour a week during morning registrations. We encourage students to build up a dialogue about reading; discussing with their peers and their teachers the books they are reading and what they find interesting. Our academy reward scheme is used as a motivator for students to celebrate success in reading on many levels, from the ‘Millionaire Word Challenge’ to simply giving feedback on the texts they have read in the form of a book review.
Accelerated Reader programme
Students in Year 7 are all engaged in the Accelerated Reader programme which facilitates students in making rapid progress in their reading and comprehension levels, whilst simultaneously motivating students to read challenging and diverse texts for enjoyment.
Reader Leader Programme
Reader Leader is a cross-age, peer reading programme. It is an effective tool to raise literacy standards and self-esteem for students as either Reader tutees in KS3 or Leader tutors in Post-16. The programme enables both sets of students to better access the secondary curriculum. Leader tutors who are members of the post-16 cohort, are trained to deliver one-to-one tutoring and support to Year 7 and 8 students who struggle with literacy. The programme has a dual impact: the tutoring role gives invaluable skills to the Leader tutors, adds value to their CV, further and higher education applications while Reader tutees improve their basic reading and comprehension skills. The programme also provides a supportive ‘buddying’ system for tutees as they make their transition from primary school to secondary school.
Literacy Across the Curriculum
Every teacher at the Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst is a teacher of literacy, and as a consequence, teachers are encouraged to embrace a range of strategies within their lessons and beyond to support students in becoming accurate and fluent communicators, both in written and spoken form.
Information Centre
The Information Centre (IC) helps support students in providing an atmosphere that promotes the enjoyment of reading and embraces writers and their craft by ensuring they are fully stocked with the latest title in both fiction and non-fiction.
Find out more about the Information Centre
In 2014/15, 30% of 5-15 year-olds in England had not visited a library in the last year.
16 year-olds who choose to read books for pleasure outside of school are more likely to secure managerial or professional jobs in later life.
England’s children have less positive attitudes towards reading than in many other countries: only 26% of 10 year-olds ‘like reading’ compared to 46% in Portugal, 42% in Georgia, 35% in Romania, and 33% in Azerbaijan.
Children who read books often at age 10 and more than once a week at age 16 gain higher results in maths, vocabulary and spelling tests at age 16 than those who read less regularly.