Reading and Literacy

Literacy at The Regis School

At The Regis School, we understand that to meet the demands of the secondary school curriculum, students must be able to read age-appropriate texts fluently. Research shows there is a strong correlation between literacy and academic success.

We are committed to promoting literacy across the school and ensuring that every student achieves their full potential. The core skills of reading, writing, and oral communication are essential for students to access all areas of the curriculum, therefore all teachers are teachers of literacy.

Throughout the school day—during lessons and in informal settings—students are encouraged to use Standard English and speak in full sentences when conversing with both peers and adults.

Teachers consistently consider their students’ reading abilities and adapt lessons to support text comprehension. To facilitate this, all Year 7 students sit a short online reading test at the beginning of September. Additionally, selected students in Years 7 to 10 take further assessments in February and June. These tests require no preparation or revision and are used solely to inform lesson planning and identify students who may benefit from additional support.

At The Regis School, we use the Lexonik programme as a targeted literacy intervention with those who need additional support in developing their reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension skills. Selected students are typically withdrawn from tutor time two to three times per fortnight to take part in small-group sessions led by trained staff. Lexonik provides structured, high-impact instruction designed to accelerate literacy progress and boost confidence in reading across the curriculum.

In all subjects, at all levels, teachers focus on developing students’ understanding of “Tier 3” vocabulary (subject-specific terms that are less commonly found in everyday texts, such as osmosis in biology or trigonometry in mathematics). We use the “Clarify” strategy to model a range of self-help techniques to help students determine word meanings independently.

In some subjects, we also use the “Reciprocal Reading” strategy. This encourages students to make predictions, ask and answer thoughtful questions, and summarise what they have read, fostering deeper engagement with texts.

Whole-school reading programme

We place a high value on reading widely and often, and students are encouraged to explore books across a variety of genres. Our well-stocked library offers a diverse range of engaging titles to suit every learner and ability level and is a space we are proud of.

During tutor time, students in Years 7 to 9 take part in our comprehensive reading programme, designed to expose them to high-quality children’s literature and foster a lifelong love of reading. Each tutor group reads a carefully selected canon of novels together throughout the year. Tutors and students read aloud, discuss key moments in the story, explore vocabulary, and examine the writer’s craft.

The central aim of this programme is to model excellent oracy, deepen students’ appreciation of literature, immerse them in imaginative worlds, and encourage reflection on personal and shared values. The novels also provide opportunities to discuss relevant world events and explore themes and topics that resonate with students’ lives and experiences.

Literacy at Home

To support the development of students' literacy skills, The Regis School uses Sparx Reader as a dedicated tool within the English department. This platform provides personalised reading practice tailored to each student’s ability, helping to build fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. As part of our literacy strategy, students are set a weekly one-hour Sparx Reader homework, which is monitored by their English teachers to ensure consistent engagement and progress. Our Librarians are also able to offer one-to-one support with Sparx if required.

What can you do?

Reading at home can include listening to your child read, reading with them, or simply ensuring they have the opportunity to read independently. We recommend that students read for 15–20 minutes each day, though reading for longer is always encouraged if they wish to do so.

Encourage your child to read a variety of materials, including newspaper articles, blogs, and non-fiction texts, as well as fiction. Many students enjoy non-fiction such as biographies or anthologies of shorter extracts—this is perfectly acceptable and should be supported. Graphic novels and comics can also be highly engaging, especially for reluctant readers.

Regularly test your child on their spellings and encourage them to look up definitions of unfamiliar vocabulary. Support them in checking their written work for errors; this can often be achieved by reading their work aloud, either to you or to themselves, which helps them identify mistakes more easily.

Be as supportive as possible when your child is writing. Talk through their ideas with them and help them clarify what they want to express. Sometimes, writing a short plan beforehand can help focus their thoughts and improve the structure of their work.

Further information

For further information about literacy at The Regis School please contact Mr Daniel Morrissey (Lead Practitioner) at daniel.morrissey@theregisschool.co.uk

For further information about our Whole School Reading Programme, Literacy Intervention, and Sparx Reader homework, please contact Mrs Karen Ward (Coordinator), at karen.ward@theregisschool.co.uk