How are Literacy Skills Developed at Our Lady’s RC High School?

Our primary priority is to ensure that all of our pupils are “Word Rich”. To this end staff professional development has  focused on a range of ways to ensure that we achieve this goal. All teaching staff have participated in training in the following areas; Academic Vocabulary, Root Words, Reading Skills and Spelling Strategies.​

 ​

All pupils in Years 7-9 have a ‘Student to Scholar’ lesson once every two weeks week, as part of their English curriculum. As part of this lesson all pupils in Year 7 to 9 participate in a programme of Latin and Greek roots to support their vocabularies and understanding. Additionally, they are explicitly taught study skills that will assists them in becoming more effective learners. ​

​

Pupils in Year 7 complete a Lexia reading test . The information from this test is used to identify which pupils would benefit from reading intervention. These pupils are provided with additional support and take part in a termly intervention programme. ​

​

Across all subjects teachers use the principles of the ‘Reciprocal Reading’ programme to develop pupils’ independent reading skills, this includes the following principles: predict, clarify, question and summarise.​

​

Across all subjects teachers use a simple yet effective marking policy which supports pupils to independently proof- read their writing to ensure that they are consistently writing in Standard English.​

How Are Literacy Skills Developed Through Extra-curricular Activities?

At Our Lady’s we understand that reading for enjoyment is essential both in terms of outcomes and pupils’ cultural capital, consequently we have a well-stocked library that pupils are able to use before school, at break, lunchtime and after school. Pupils can use the computers for research, complete homework, use revision guides and read for pleasure.

In Year 7 all pupils have the opportunity to visit Manchester Central Library. They have a tour of this magnificent resource and are given the chance to borrow books to read at home.

How Can You Support Your Child In Developing Their Literacy Skills?

The most crucial way that you can help is by ensuring that your child is regularly reading, at home.​

 ​

• If they are in Year 7-Year 9  they should have the following items in their school bag at all times: independent reading book and ‘Student to Scholar’ exercise book. If they are in Years 10-11 they should be encouraged to have an independent reading book.​