Literacy

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Literacy

At The Priory School, we believe passionately in the importance of literacy. It is of crucial importance for every child to be able to access information through the medium of text with confidence and to be able to communicate effectively and confidently when writing and speaking. Reading is an integral learning skill and there is a huge amount of research and evidence of the many advantages reading brings. We are committed to supporting students with literacy, building on the work of KS1 and KS2 and preparing students to be successful in their lives after they leave The Priory.

What are the benefits of reading?

Reading increases vocabulary, helps with language development, fluency and accuracy.
Creativity- reading helps develop curiosity and imagination. It allows us to explore a huge variety of interests, increasing our knowledge and investigating endless new avenues of learning.
Reading ability is closely linked to the achievement of pupils in all GCSEs, not just English. Confidence with reading goes hand-in-hand with success in later life, as reading helps us access all sorts of materials and opportunities in the world of work and leisure.
Reading is a low-cost and very accessible form of entertainment. It has been proved to reduce stress and can lift our mood.
Reading improves concentration, a key for success in many areas of life.

How do we support literacy at The Priory School?

Vocabulary

Key words are highlighted in all curriculum areas and referred to in lessons. Students store these in their exercise books and/ or in their planners, where there is a list of the key Maths, Science and English words for the term.

Accurate Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar is highlighted as of key importance when communicating in writing. Students are asked to focus on key spellings or missing punctuation where appropriate.

Please click here to view our Marking for Literacy Policy

Tutor Reads

At KS3, students read a key text with their form tutor. This may take various forms, maybe individuals or the teacher reading aloud or with opportunities for silent reading.

Please click her to view a list of Tutor Reads

The School Library

We are incredibly fortunate to have a very well-stocked School Library, manned by experienced and very enthusiastic School Librarians, ably supported by a team of Student Librarians. There is a range of materials, suitable for all age groups and catering to a wide range of interests. There is a huge emphasis on reading for pleasure and enjoyment, importantly allowing individual choice but also providing guidance where required. In addition to this, the school library aims to provide engaging resources to support all areas of the curriculum.

Students have a library lesson as part of their English timetable during Years 7-10 where their subject teacher will discuss their reading habits and seek appropriate interventions. In Year 11 students have a weekly slot during form periods when they can access the library to browse and check out books. The library is also available after-school and at breaktimes and lunchtimes on a rota basis.

Reading Interventions

All students are assessed at the start and end of Year 7 to establish Reading and Spelling ages (we use GL Assessments New Group Reading Test (NGRT) and Spelling Test (NGST). Any students who are identified as average or below average for Reading and Spelling will also be assessed in Year 8 and 9 to track progress and intervention needs.

We have a series of Reading and Spelling interventions aimed at raising the chronological reading and spelling ages of all students. Some of these interventions take place within our Learning Support Hub with teaching assistants, with specific support given to those students who have English as an Additional Language. A baseline assessment is taken at the start of each of these interventions to give clear insight into the most appropriate strategies and assess the impact of the interventions after a given period of time.

Paired Reading

To promote reading, during form times some of our younger students from Year 7 and 8 are paired up with older students in Year 9 and 10. This helps increase confidence and fluency when reading and enables our older students to share their enjoyment of reading with others.

Reading Captains

We have a Year 11 Reading Captain for each of our 6 Houses. These Reading Captains promote reading across the school, working with KS3 students in particular to champion reading. So far this year, they have promoted reading at assemblies, Year 6 information evenings and with form groups lower down the school.

Pupil Premium

All KS3 Pupil Premium students are invited on a visit to Shrewsbury Library, where we have a tour around the library and an opportunity to sign up for a library card.

We run a book club for Pupil Premium students on a Monday after school.

Reading at home

All our students are encouraged to read at home on a regular basis. They have a double page to plan each week in their planners, with a recommended Reading slot of 30 minutes each day. Their planners also contain a Reading Log where they are asked to note down the books they have read and their opinions of them.

Link for supporting your child with reading at home

Link for Research about Reading for Pleasure

A student guide to reading at home

Supporting young people reading at home

We also promote reading of non-fiction books, linked to curriculum areas. Each subject has a Literacy Layer, with suggested reading beyond the classroom for students to deepen their understanding of a particular topic or read beyond the curriculum. These texts are available in the library.

Art fiction

Art Non-fiction

Food Technology fiction

Food Technology Non-fiction

Geography fiction

Geography Non-fiction