This year, we’ve been excited to launch a brand-new literacy curriculum for our Year 7 students. Separate from their English lessons, this programme gives students the opportunity to explore a wide range of literacy skills in creative and engaging ways that support learning across all subjects.
While knowledge and skill development are central to the curriculum, there is also a strong focus on fostering a love of reading. Students are encouraged to explore different genres, make meaningful connections between literature and the world around them, and consider how and why writers tell the stories they do. Each unit is carefully designed to ensure success for all learners, and upcoming lessons will place greater emphasis on oracy, fluency, and the continued development of reading skills.
Our Reading Lead, Mrs Mallin-Cruddace commented: “Students have enjoyed the chance to be creative—using their comprehension skills to design objects inspired by the text, re-enacting character conversations through hot seating and puppet work, and exploring empathy by making connections to the wider world. There has been a real buzz in the classroom, and we’re looking forward to building on this enthusiasm as we continue through the rest of the curriculum.”
Here is Mrs Buckley’s class creating some characterful puppets (during their lesson on Wear Something Red Day):
