Reading

NGRT Reading Age Data

• Year 7 and 8 students’ reading age is tested 2 x per year and data shared with teachers so that appropriate support and adaptations can be made in lesson.
• Students who need additional support are identified and provided with the appropriate intervention.

‘Just Read’ Groups

• Students that need support with reading comprehension, decoding and reading fluency are supported through twice weekly ‘just read’ groups where students are encouraged to read more and read aloud in small groups order to support the gaps in prior learning.
• This approach is supported by research from the University of Sussex ‘Just reading’: the impact of a faster pace of reading narratives on the comprehension of poorer adolescent readers in English classrooms : Sussex Research Online

Reciprocal Reading

• All teachers have received training on reciprocal reading strategies that support students’ ability to read texts accurately and actively and promote group or paired work that enable effective academic reading for a range of purposes.
• Students read in pairs, groups, independently and as a whole-class using the RR strategies to support students’ reading development
• This approach is supported by research conducted by EEF Reciprocal Reading | EEF (educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk)

T2 and T3 vocabulary and Bedrock reading

• All teachers have received training on effective strategies for teaching T2 and T3 vocabulary that support academic reading within their discipline; all subject KOs include specific T3 vocabulary that is used, recalled and embedded frequently
• Students complete non-fiction reading and vocabulary acquisition tasks each week through the Bedrock reading platform.
• Students that have a RA below their chronological reading age receive additional time and targets in school to rapidly develop reading and vocabulary skills.
• Student progress is tracked through the reporting system and through the tracker in students’ English exercise books

Systematic phonics intervention and support

• Students who have reading ages of below 6 years old will, where appropriate, be given small group or 1:1 phonics support
• Teachers or TAs that deliver this specific intervention have been trained with, and follow, the SoundsWrite phonics programme

BMS School Library

• The school library includes a wide range of modern and classic fiction reading materials that are age appropriate for students. These materials have been selected to engage and inspire students of all abilities.
• Non-fiction reading materials have been complied by subject specialists and include a wide range of texts that enable students to build their knowledge and understanding of a range of topics as well as improve their reading skills.
• The library is available to students at break and lunchtimes and students can borrow materials to read at home.
• The library materials are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure students can access the reading material that best suits their needs and interests.

Extra-curricular

• From 2024, the library will hosts the BMS book club which will be run by the Librarian,  English department and student librarians. Students will be encouraged to share their reading experiences of the termly book club read.
• Reading is also promoted through extra-curricular and enrichment activities such as World Book Day events, author visits and screenings of theatre/film adaptations of popular books and novels.

Term 1&2

Term 3&4

Term 5&6

Year 7

All students will read ‘Boy at the Back of the Class’ as a class reader.

They Both Die at the End – Adam De’Silvo

Stretch and Challenge: Noughts and Crosses – Malorie Blackman

Books will be chosen by class teachers based on appropriateness.

Crongton Nights – Alex Wheatle

Stretch and Challenge: The Hound of the Baskervilles – Arthur Conan Doyle

Books will be chosen by class teachers based on appropriateness.   

    Cultural Capital Reading List

Cultural-Capital-Reading-List-Year-7.pdf

Termly Reading Lists in English in the KOs linked to topics and themes being studied

Year 8

Students’ own reading books or a choice of books not previously read from the Year 7 list if RA appropriate

Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe

Non-Fiction Reading

Black and British – David Olusoga

Stretch and Challenge: I am Malala – Malala Yousafzai

The Woman in Black – Susan Hill

Alternative for students with lower reading ages: The Ruby in the Smoke – Phillip Pullman

    Cultural Capital Reading List

Year-8-Cultural-Capital-Reading-List-.pdf

Termly Reading Lists in English in the KOs linked to topics and themes being studied

    G&T reading list for KS3

GT-suggested-activities.pdf

Year 9

Books will be chosen by class teacher based on appropriateness.

Students in year 9 will also study a selection of non-fiction extracts that are relevant to their learning.

• Each term, parents of all students receive an email regarding the recommended reads and reading challenges that students can participate in.

• Over the summer holidays, students are set reading challenges and continue to have access to Bedrock which they are encouraged to complete weekly.