Literacy is integral to pupils’ learning across all subjects and is key to their development as individuals, as well as their opportunities and outcomes in later life. For this reason, Literacy is at the forefront of our teaching and learning at Goldington; to engage our pupils whilst nurturing their success.
Our Literacy focus is to build a reading culture where every student is able to read fluently and with expression, to help them to access the curriculum and build vocabulary. We also aim to ensure through all lessons that students are able to express themselves orally through discussion and in writing. We want students to understand the world around them and to be empowered communicators themselves.
Here are a few of the ways we embed Literacy into everyday life at Goldington:
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Quality first teaching
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The Whole School read during tutor time
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The Reading fluency project delivered to struggling and reluctant readers
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A vibrant library space, full of books and other print resources
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Explicit vocabulary instruction
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Subject specific reading strategies
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Plenty of opportunities for discussion and oral rehearsal
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World Book Day celebrations
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Fortnightly timetabled library lessons
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Corridor displays
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Reading-based homework set frequently
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Author visits
The Whole School Read
During 2020, 3 in 5 children said that reading made them feel better and we believe that reading is a companion for life. Our ambition is to encourage a love of reading for pleasure, because the research shows that not only does this make more successful adults through increasing cultural capital and vocabulary, but it is also beneficial for mental health and lifelong enjoyment. Through our reading in form time, we want to build a shared enjoyment of books in order to develop reading stamina and hopefully begin their own independent reading journey. The books we choose are engaging, diverse and allow students to build on their understanding of cultural contexts.
All students will have read the following books (in addition to those studied in English) by the time they enter key stage four:
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Alex Rider — Anthony Horowitz
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Diary of a Young Girl — Anne Frank
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The Outsiders — S.E. Hinton
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Edgar and Adolf — Philip Earle & Michael Wagg
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I am Malala — Malala Yousafzai
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Salt to the Sea — Ruta Sepetys
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A Monster Calls — Patrick Ness
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Lightning Strike — Tanya Landman
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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time — Mark Haddon
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Noughts and Crosses — Malorie Blackman
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The Book Thief — Markus Zusak
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Dark Peak — Marcus Sedgwick