Felixstowe School is a Reading School

We have significantly invested in reading at our school, which includes a new Reading Room, reading journals at Key Stage 3, the Felixstowe 60 must-reads, a free book for all year 7 and 8 students, and a robust intervention programme. Reading is an important strand of literacy, which also includes writing and oracy. 

Literacy is at the core of our culture at Felixstowe School. Lessons are designed to ensure reading and writing opportunities are frequent. Our curriculum also places emphasis on developing excellent oracy skills. There are three broad areas that form our approach; curriculum, intervention, and culture. 

Students at Felixstowe School can expect to learn how to read forensically, communicate effectively using an advanced vocabulary, and read with prosody. 

Curriculum

Each subject has ensured developing literacy is explicitly planned into their curriculum. In year 7 a student’s literacy proficiency is forensically analysed to make sure lessons are tailored appropriately and to ascertain whether intervention is needed. Emphasis is placed on reading because we know that in order for students to be able to access our ambitious curriculum they need to be able to read. 

Each subject area has word lists that feature tier two (advanced high frequency) vocabulary and tier three (subject-specific words) and these are explicitly taught using techniques, such as exploring etymology and the use of Frayer models. 

We also have reading lists to support the academic journey and the acquisition of wider contextual knowledge. 

We expect our students to embrace a no opt-out approach when taking part in oracy activities, which includes answering targeted questions, delivering presentations, debating, or reading from texts. 

Intervention

Every Key Stage 3 student is tested using the Access Reading Test, which provides a raw score and a reading age. Any student significantly under their reading age is placed on some sort of intervention. Most students under their reading age will be placed on the Lexia programme. Additional intervention is put in place in the form of Fresh Start and Herts Fluency which are designed to rapidly improve word recognition, fluency, and basic comprehension. If the young person in your care is in need of additional support you will be contacted. 

What we can do to support you:

• A newsletter once per half-term full of lots of helpful tips, news, and essential reads. 
• Provide reading books from our Reading Room.
• A termly coffee morning where reading and wider literacy is discussed.
• Additional reading material that is tailored to reading age. 
• Reading lists.

What can you do at home to support a reading culture?

• Model an enjoyment of reading. 
• Make reading part of the daily routine. Why not have a designated reading time?
• Ask about what is being read. 
• Discuss Reading Journal entries at Key Stage 3. 
• Make contact with the school and ask to borrow books from our Reading Room.