Literacy

Introduction

At St Aldhelm’s Academy, we believe that reading is an essential skill that supports both academic success and personal growth. We strive to nurture a passion for reading while expanding students’ cultural understanding and awareness of the world around them.

Tutor Reading Programme

Our tutor reading programme takes place four times a week, giving students the opportunity to experience a variety of high-quality texts. Throughout the academic year, they explore five to six thoughtfully chosen novels that reflect different cultures, historical periods, and themes of change. By reading aloud, tutors provide valuable context, enhancing students’ comprehension and drawing links to the wider curriculum. This initiative ensures that all students engage with enriching literature, deepening their knowledge and appreciation of storytelling.

Guided Reading 

Guided Reading is a teacher-led programme targeting students at or above their expected reading age designed to foster a love of reading and expose our readers to an increased level of Tier 3 vocabulary. The books have been curated to showcase a wide range of exciting and challenging texts that incorporate diverse cultures and writers along with those from the literary canon. We begin Year 7 with novels focussing on war and identity before taking some fantastical adventures in Year 8 and finally introducing our Year 9s to dystopian fiction throughout the ages.