Literacy
Literacy: Reading, Writing and Oracy
Literacy is at the heart of everything we do at The Royal Sutton School. We are building a strong reading culture, underpinned by high-quality literacy strategies across the school. We have a shared vision that all students leave The Royal Sutton School as fluent readers, confident writers and articulate orators. We are committed to ensuring that literacy is never a barrier to achievement and that our students leave school with a reading age in line with their chronological age.
Reading is the basis for accessing all areas of the curriculum and the outside world. We encourage and support our students to read both widely and regularly as part of the curriculum. Through reading, our young people learn about new experiences, different ways of writing, different formats through which to express themselves and widen their own vocabulary. Our key notes are read aloud to students to model fluency, then annotated to allow for a guided reading opportunity whilst checking for understanding.
Academic Vocabulary
Our students are exposed to high-level academic texts in every subject. We ensure that academic words and phrases are explicitly taught so that students are equipped with the skills to use them confidently in a variety of contexts. As part of the process, students listen to the teacher modelling the correct pronunciation of tier 2 and tier 3 vocabulary, before engaging in a teacher lead annotated read.
Intervention for struggling readers
Alongside our curriculum and literacy toolkit, we provide interventions to strengthen our students’ learning and ensure extra support is given where required. Our interventions are currently delivered through two programmes: Sparx Reader and Switch-On Reading.
Sparx Reader
Sparx Reader is an engaging and supportive platform in which students can develop their reading and literacy skills. We use Sparx Reader to support us in building confident readers through regular reading practice. Sparx makes reading visible, as teachers are able to monitor and track student progress. Sparx has many accessibility features to support individual needs including different fonts, text size, background colours and the option to check the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary. Where students need support with their reading, we have small groups accessing additional time in the library on Sparx Reader, with support from the librarian.
Switch-On Reading Programme
We have trained staff to deliver Switch-On Reading; a one-to-one reading intervention. The purpose of Switch-On is to achieve functional literacy, by closing the reading gap for children working below age-expected levels. Students engage with a twenty minute session which focuses on decoding and fluency. Over a period of 10 weeks, students are supported to become more confident and active, independent readers.
Form Time Reading
At The Royal Sutton School, students read during form time each week. Our form tutors, who are teachers of all subjects across the school, model expert reading to their tutor group through the reading of high quality texts, which are carefully sequenced and from a range of genres, perspectives and cultures.
Reading Lessons
All students in Years 7, 8 and 9 have a library lesson once a fortnight as part of their timetabled English lessons.
In each lesson, students access Sparx Reader or select a text from the library to read silently, allowing for focused, independent reading. During this lesson, teachers are able to listen to students reading aloud to monitor fluency and comprehension.
Reading Rewards
Students can earn rewards for reading in the following ways:
- Sparx Reader engagement
- Taking part in reading competitions in the library
- Engaging in class reading during tutor periods or in lessons
- Creating artwork or other reading-related resources for the library or around school
- Becoming a ‘top reader’ as determined by library borrowing data
The John Willmott Library
The John Willmott Library at The Royal Sutton School is a vibrant, colourful and popular space, designed to encourage students to read. Students can access the library during break, lunchtime and after school, where they are encouraged to use the space to read, study or play quiet games.
Students can browse and read fiction and non-fiction books covering a wide range of topics, featuring diverse characters and exploring a variety of issues that interest young people. Students can loan and return books or use the space to immerse themselves in a quiet reading experience. Each student, as part of their English lessons, takes part in a library induction where they are introduced to our selection of fiction and non-fiction, as well as a wide range of genres to choose from. Our Learning Resource Manager, Mrs Gilbert, has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to support our students with their reading.
Reading Ambassadors
We select Reading Ambassadors to support Mrs Gilbert with the running of the library, chosen following an application process. As part of their role, they are trained in using the library system to assist Mrs Gilbert at break and lunchtimes. They also encourage their peers to visit the library, create marketing materials and assist with author visits and other reading events throughout the year.
