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Literacy and Reading

Why Does it Matter? 

Literacy (reading, writing, and speaking) helps you learn more, understand more, and show what you know. It’s not just for English lessons.That’s why we make sure literacy is part of everything we do. 

 

🎯Our Six Big Goals 

  1. Every child a reader – we want everyone to enjoy reading in and out of school. 

  1. Literacy in every subject – every subject helps you build reading and writing skills. 

  1. If reading is tricky, we’ll help you get better and more confident. 

     

🌟Sparx Reader 

Sparx is an online reading tool that helps you practice reading every week. 

How It Works: 

  • Read for 30 minutes or achieve 300 points each week as homework. 

  • Have a reading lesson every two weeks in English. 

  • Answer questions to earn points for your House. 

  • Compete with your classmates and celebrate your progress in assemblies. 

     

📚 Our Library 

Our library is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM for reading, homework, and quiet study. It’s a calm, welcoming space with helpful staff and student librarians who recommend great books.  

 

🏠 Reading at Home 

  • Talk about what you’re reading (especially Sparx books). 

  • Read aloud to people at home.

  • Show younger siblings you are reading. 

  • Try different types of reading: novels, blogs, newspapers, biographies. 

  • Remember, reading is fun -it lets you explore new worlds and ideas. 

  • Visit your local library,it’s free and full of great books. 

     

📖 Reading in Tutor Time 

Each year group reads up to three books together during tutor time. These books help you learn about different cultures, explore big ideas, and talk about important topics like war, discrimination, and freedom. 

 

What Happens? 

  • Your teacher reads aloud to show how to read with expression. 

  • You’llpractise reading out loud together (choral or echo reading). 

     

Books We Read 

 

Year 7 

Year 8 

Year 9 

Year 10 

Year 11 

Popular Fiction 

Kick, by Mitch Johnson 

Kick By Mitch Johnson, Shape 

The Ghosts of Heaven, by Marcus Sedgwick 

 

Brother in the Land, by Robert Swindells 

The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas 

Animal Farm, by George Orwell 

Classic 

The Thirty-Nine Steps, by John Buchan 

Animal Farm, by George Orwell 

Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck 

The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Arthur Conan Doyle 

 

Biography 

Boy, by Roald Dahl 

I Am Malala, by Malala Yousafzai 

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler, by Phillip Hoose 

 

 

 

📝 Homework Reading – year 7 and 8 

Every Wednesday, you’ll get a reading article linked to the school’s weekly theme. There’s a QR code to a video where a teacher reads it aloud to help you follow along. 


🔗https://www.castleschool.co.uk/parents/homework.htm  

 

📘 Reading in Lessons 

Every subject helps you build your reading and vocabulary. Teachers will use: 
- Word roots and syllables 
- Etymology (word history) 
- Dual coding (words + visuals) 

This helps you understand tricky words and ideas in every subject. 

 

🔗 Useful Links 

BookTrust – Get into Reading: https://www.booktrust.org.uk/ 

Taunton Library: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/locations/taunton-library/ 

 

 

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