“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
— Psalm 119:105
“Through reading, we discover knowledge, develop understanding and grow in faith as we prepare for our future.”
Placing reading at the heart of the curriculum is a moral duty at Sacred Heart Catholic Secondary, ensuring students gain the confidence and fluency necessary to reach their full academic and personal potential. By fostering strong literacy skills, the school provides essential access to all subjects and builds the vocabulary needed for future success. Ultimately, reading is a vital life skill that extends far beyond the classroom, opening door.s to diverse career paths, enhancing communication, and empowering individuals to navigate and engage fully with the world around them.
Useful reading links for our students, parents / carers:
Our aim is to cultivate a reading culture that:
- Ensures every pupil can read fluently, accurately and with comprehension;
- Promotes reading for pleasure and lifelong learning;
- Embraces everybody being an everyday reader; finding the reading opportunities in school and beyond;
- Develops vocabulary and understanding to support success across all subjects;
- Embeds oracy and discussion to deepen understanding and engagement.
Closing the Reading Gap
Termly testing of reading ages in Key Stage 3 using a screener, with continued tracking for weaker readers in Key Stage 4 allows for a continuous cycle of monitoring around reading competencies.
Students who struggle are further assessed using the YARC diagnostic tool. From there, interventions are started for identified students making use of all of our intervention spaces.
Reading for Pleasure
- Sparx Reader is utilised through the English curriculum and targeted homework. Achievements are celebrated through certificates, form competitions and house competitions.
- Large investment in a new purpose-built Library with experienced student Librarians and regularly updated book collections.
- World Book Day is celebrated across the whole school, with activities within different departments.
