Reading
Our Love of Reading!
We are all created in the image and likeliness of God. We are all unique and special.
“To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.” – Victor Hugo
At St Thomas More Catholic High School, we hold the belief that reading is the gateway to learning and the curriculum. If a pupil can read age-appropriate fiction and non-fiction texts fluently, they are able to fulfil the demands of the secondary school curriculum and leave the realms of education with the necessary skills to become contributing members of society.
Reading…
- Allows for creativity and an escape into a world of imagination
- Is the key to improving comprehension/learning and raising standards of all pupils at STM
- Is a vital skill for life and needs to be encouraged and nurtured to support future academic and personal success
Reading is a fundamental part of all curriculum areas and at St Thomas More and opportunities to read and be supported with reading are embedded throughout the school day.
The Reading Department
Curriculum Leader for Reading: Mrs J Littler
Teachers of Reading: Mrs J Littler, Mrs G Davenhill-Lyon and Miss C Massey
Reading Intervention Support: Mrs G Davenhill-Lyon
Library Staff: Mrs J Littler and Miss P Galanis
Curriculum Time
Reading is paramount throughout the school. Lessons are brimming with reading within the subject. Pupil involvement in reading helps their curriculum skills but also supports their literacy skills. Examples of reading include texts, vocabulary, reading off the whiteboard, excerpts, articles, and books. Reading is not only part of lessons but also part of home learning, with pupils regularly being set reading tasks outside of the classroom to develop their reading skills and broaden their experiences of a range of different text types.
Curriculum areas also have designated areas of the library, with subject specific books available for pupils to help develop their reading skills in the different disciplines they study.
"Reading is the ultimate exercise of imagination." - Edward, Y11 Pupil
Building the Kingdom Time
During Building the Kingdom form time, pupils have the opportunity to read together as a collective. Pupils in Year 7 to 11 are given a set text to read as a form. These have been carefully selected to ensure quality, suitability, and enjoyment. The chosen titles include some of the most iconic, inspirational and thought-provoking texts, exposing pupils to some of the greatest works from Literary history.
Reading opportunities are also evident in our daily prayers and weekly Wednesday Word sessions, where sections of the Gospel are read and discussed within groups. Jesus is often referred to as the ‘Master Storyteller’ and his parables and teachings are at the heart of reading every Wednesday.
‘Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.’ - Revelation 1:3
Reading Support
Pupils in KS3 are assessed using the SPARX Reader to determine their reading age. Those identified as needing additional support undergo further screening with the YARC (York Assessment for Reading Comprehension) to pinpoint specific areas requiring improvement. The results, along with targeted support strategies, are shared with both staff and parents.
All KS3 pupils are assigned weekly reading through the SPARX Reader app, where they can choose from a selection of books suited to their reading level. To promote active reading and comprehension, pupils complete short quizzes and comprehension questions, helping them read carefully for meaning while expanding their vocabulary.
In addition to improving their reading skills, pupils earn SPARX Reader Points, which contribute to individual and class competitions. These points allow them to compete for termly prizes, participating in inter-class challenges, and rank against other schools in national league tables.
Library
“There is no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who have not found the right book.” – Frank Serafini
The library is staffed every lunch time by members of our STM Library Team. Pupils can come and select a book and take it away to enjoy. There is a selection of books which are grouped in genres rather than by author. There are also lots of activities taking place in the library, which tie in with our reading calendar for the academic year-such as National Comic Book Day, World Book Day and Non-Fiction November.
We have a thriving pupil led ‘Library Team’ who help to support the running of the library. They meet every lunch time and help pupils choose different books. We also have a ‘Book Suggestion’ box where pupils can propose book titles they would like to see in stock in the library. This way we ensure our shelves are current and reflect our pupils’ personal choices and preferences.
Library Loyalty Card
This is a whole school challenge where pupils are challenged to read 10 books in 10 months. Pupils have a loyalty card, once they have read a book a member of the library team signs the card. A full card means a literary prize!
"Reading takes you to other worlds." - Layla, Y9 pupil
Reading Events
At St Thomas More we have a monthly calendar of reading events that pupils are given the opportunity to celebrate and commemorate in the library, as a whole school and as part of curriculum areas. The events planned throughout the year incorporate both national and worldwide reading events, as well as more local and school specific events. Events celebrated in these past few years have included World Book Day, National Comic Book Day, Non-Fiction November, and National Story Telling Week.
Author Visits
Working closely with our local bookshop "Nantwich Bookshop & Coffee Lounge" and authors in our local community, we have organised author visits for our pupils to enjoy. Children's author and TV Star Yvette Fielding visited to deliver a writing workshop to our pupils. She took pupils through the process of writing a book, From generating ideas, finding a publisher to the editing process. Yvette was also very impressed with some of our own pupils, who are currently in the process of writing their own stories. We've clearly got some very talented writers in our school!
We have also had local comic book designer Ian Stopforth visit our pupils to lead a comic book workshop to celebrate National Comic Book Day.
Most recently, some of our KS3 pupils took part in a live story writing workshop with children's author Steven Camden. This was part of the events hosed by the National Literacy Trust to celebrate National Storytelling Week. Pupils explored the art of storytelling, learned how to bring their ideas to life on paper, and honed their creative writing skills. They have the exciting opportunity to submit their work for publication in the National Storytelling Week Anthology!
Teaming up with the National Literacy Trust once again, our Year 7 space enthusiasts took part in a virtual author visit from Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, to celebrate the launch of her new book ‘Am I made of Stardust?’ Why are planets round? What would happen if I fell into a blackhole? These were just some of the questions that Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock answered during the live virtual author event for our Year 7 pupils.
Reading Lessons
Some Year 7 and 8 pupils have access to supportive reading lessons designed to enhance their reading skills and foster a love for reading. These lessons are carefully planned to cater to each pupil’s individual needs, ensuring they are both engaging and appropriately challenging. The primary goal is to highlight the importance of reading, help pupils discover texts they enjoy, and develop their reading abilities. Students explore a diverse range of fiction and non-fiction texts, including digital formats such as e-books and podcasts. Additionally, lessons align with the school’s reading calendar, celebrating events like International Women’s Day and Banned Books Month.
St Thomas More Suggested Reading
The Divergent Series - 'These books are amazing because they are full of action and very interesting to read'
The Hate You Give - 'I love this book because it is so true and realistic to what life is like.'
Five Feet Apart - 'I think that this book is really interesting and accurate in teaching people about cystic fibrosis.'
Heroes of Olympus Series - 'These books are really interesting and have many different story lines.'
Harry Potter Series - 'These are an amazing fantasy book series.'
The Hobbit - 'It is really interesting and has a fantastic story line.'
Library Team Reading Suggestions
Top Tips for Parents
1. Make books a part of family life - Always have books around at home. That way you and your children are ready to get reading, even if it’s only for 10 minutes; 10 minutes of reading per day can have a huge impact
2. Join your local library - Get your child a library card. They’ll be able to get their hands on hundreds of fantastic books, as well as the latest video games, DVDs and E- Books. Let them choose what they want to read to help them develop their own interests. Personal choice and preference is key
3. Read about something they’re interested in - Help your child find the right book for them. It doesn't matter if it's fiction, poetry, comic books or non-fiction. All reading is good – don’t rule out non-fiction, comics, graphic novels, magazines or leaflets. Reading is reading and it’s all worthwhile.
4. Ask questions - To keep them interested in the story, ask your child questions as they read. Ask your child to explain, in their own words, the plot/meaning of the book/text that they are currently studying. In addition, to check your child is absorbing what they are reading, ask them occasional questions about characters and events in the book.
5. Read whenever you get the chance - Have a book or magazine with you for any time your child has to wait, in a car journey for example or when they have completed all of their homework.
6. Seeing literature as more than just a book to be read - Look out for film or stage adaptations of famous texts – many of these are available for free online!
