Reading and Language for Learning
Progressional reading
- Reading is a key focus through many different strands including timetabled curriculum programmes such as Jumpstart, where students who are not considered secondary ready are taught the necessary phonics and reading skills to allow them to access learning and complex vocabulary across the curriculum.
- Alongside this specialist phonics intervention, all teaching and support staff have had phonics training, provided through our academy trust. All staff at Holy Trinity understand how children at primary schools are taught to read; this training enables teachers and support staff to support our weakest readers in all subjects.
- Students undertake reading tests at the start and end of year 7 and year 10. Their reading age is shared with all of their teachers, this allows lessons to be adapted to support and challenge readers of all abilities.
- Our Paired Reading programme runs during form time throughout the Spring and Summer term. This is an opportunity for year 7 students to build confidence in their reading, by working closely with a year 10 mentor.
Reading across the curriculum
- All students access First News through our Tutor Time programme, this allows students to be introduced to contextual and environmental issues, broadening and deepening their knowledge of the world around them. This reading tool is utilised by not only form tutors but teachers too who, when necessary build this into their curriculums. Inspired by First News, students have started their own school newspaper: ‘Trinity Times’.
- With reading, understanding language and being able to infer and deduce comes hand in hand with understanding complex vocabulary. Therefore we have focused on developing students’ language skills through ‘Prefix of the Week,’(2022-24) which allowed students to understand the etymology of language and meanings of prefixes and root words, as well as raising awareness of language across the school. We have combined our previous learning on prefixes, eytomology and synonyms, as well as our whole school mission as children of God, into the Catholic Word of the Week, for the year 2024-25.
- As a school, we invest in our teachers’ love of learning and have broadened teachers’ knowledge through CPD sessions, including bespoke whole-school training led by Alex Quigley (Closing the Reading Gap). All departments have been given copies of Quigley’s books to support with embedding reading strategies across the whole school, as well as access to a whole-school literacy toolkit.
Love of reading
- To develop our school’s love of reading further we have bought into an e-book and audio book virtual library, Sora, which allows students to read and listen to a range of materials, fiction and non-fiction on their electronic devices, which is available across the school to staff and students.
- Our Senior Leaders attend form time to read to students, sharing their favourite reads which broadens students’ knowledge of authors and genres and encourages them to choose new themes when we Drop Everything and Read. In the same way our dedicated focus on World Book Day and World Poetry Day engages them too as we celebrate this across the school throughout each period in the day and recently through events such as Culture Day and Holocaust Memorial Day, we explored these events across the school through fiction, non-fiction and poetry
- We also engage students further with KS3 suggested reading lists, subject linked reading lists, themed reading lists that may link to current events and ‘Article of the Week’. On Fridays in form time, students play word games, such as ‘Wordiply’ and ‘Wordle’ as a fun way to improve their understanding of new words and support literacy skills.
- We have a focus on engaging boys and one way of promoting boys’ love of reading is by having male teachers, such as the Headteacher, promote their own love of reading. As well as this, the library catalogue is expanding and evolving as we believe that an exciting collection will encourage all of our students to discover new authors, new voices and new perspectives.
- Every classroom in school has a book corner, where students are able to choose any books to read and borrow. Teachers often add their own favourite books and enjoy discussing them with students. Every teacher’s favourite book, and sometimes the book that they are currently reading is displayed on their classroom or office door. We encourage students to have discussions about books that they have read and staff model this throughout the school.
- Students are given plenty of opportunities to be involved with the joys of reading, including an annual rewards trip to the Library of Birmingham, visits from spoken word poets and rappers, exciting competitions with book themed prizes, a library newsletter ran by students and many other exciting events throughout the year. Reading is always an important part of school life.
Oracy
Spoken language skills are so important; our students deserve to feel that they’re voices are powerful and meaningful. Students are given support and encouragement to use their voices in lessons, and choose to switch to ‘Academic Code’. Giving students the opportunity to reflect and improve the way that they communicate effectively, both inside and outside the classroom, is an important element of their education at Holy Trinity and for their future endeavours.
- ‘Debate Club’ is one way that students’ improve their spoken language skills. This extra-curricular club runs every Thursday and is open to all students. Each year, our debaters take part in a debate competition with other schools in our Academy Trust.
- Public Speaking is an important part of our extra curricular offering, and each year we encourage students to put themselves forward for opportunities to take part in events, workshops and competitions. These include the Catholic Partnership KS3 & KS4 Public Speaking competitions, Speakers trust workshop and Speak Out! Challenge.
November is ‘Oracy Focus Month’ in school and we will be taking part in a fundraising event on Weds 27th Nov- ‘No Pens Day’. This is an opportunity for students to put down their pens in all lessons and use their voice to communicate, learn and share. More details can be found here: No Pens Day 2024
