Literacy Development

St Peter’s School recognises that securing rapid progress in students’ reading age is important. This allows students to access written resources and to complete written tasks using the correct detailed subject specific content. This is a significant requirement of our students the majority of whom enter St Peter’s School with reading ages far below their chronological age. But through the support we offer, our students make rapid improvements.

Data is the most recent tracking for students, however, updated assessments for students were not available due to COVID restrictions at the end of the summer term 2020.

This rapid improvement is achieved by:

• Working with primary schools to identify those who need the most intensive support
• Reading intervention via experienced and trained staff on an individual/small group basis as appropriate using nationally recognised schemes
• Peer reading with 6^th Form students
• Reading during KS3 English lessons
• Celebrating the importance of reading e.g. Rotary Club Literacy Cup
• Literacy/extended writing being a focus in all subjects across all year groups
• Marking for literacy an expectation of staff
• Reading during tutor time
• Numerous events organised by library staff to encourage reading:
• Author visits
• Book competitions
• Reading in the library during tutor time

Peter Murray (children’s author) is our ‘Partner for Reading’, involving regular activities at St Peter’s School.