Literacy at Claremont High School Academy
Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.
Emilie Buchwald
Reading for Pleasure, aims to encourage secondary school pupils to embrace the joy of reading at home, with support from their parents.
We believe that reading should be more than just a school task—it's an opportunity to escape into exciting stories, expand knowledge, and enhance creativity.
This website platform provides a wealth of book recommendations to help students discover books that match their personal interests. It also offers practical tips for parents on how they can create a reading-friendly environment at home, making it easier for their children to develop a love for reading and incorporate it into their daily lives.
Reading for pleasure has numerous benefits, both academically and personally. It improves vocabulary, writing skills, and critical thinking, while also fostering empathy by exposing readers to diverse perspectives.
Encouraging reading outside the classroom also strengthens the bond between parent and child, as parents can share in the excitement of discovering new books and stories. As the celebrated author James Baldwin wisely said, “Read, read, read, never stop reading and when you can’t read anymore…WRITE.”
Reading empowers students to navigate challenges, connect with different experiences, and understand the world in deeper ways. By supporting your child's reading journey, you’re helping them build a foundation for success in both school and life.
Here are some compelling statistics that highlight how reading can improve life chances:
- Improved Academic Performance:
- According to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), students who engage in regular reading for pleasure perform better academically. In fact, teens who read for fun at least three times a week are more likely to have higher academic achievement than their peers who don't.
- Better Career Opportunities:
A report by The National Literacy Trust found that individuals who read for pleasure are more likely to secure well-paying jobs. People who read regularly tend to have stronger language skills, which are essential in the workplace, leading to higher employment rates and increased earning potential.
- Higher Life Satisfaction and Well-being:
Research by Oxford University indicates that reading helps reduce stress, promotes emotional well-being, and even improves brain function. People who read regularly show a greater capacity for empathy, understanding, and problem-solving, all of which contribute to higher life satisfaction.
- Stronger Cognitive and Memory Skills:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that reading stimulates the brain and strengthens cognitive functions, leading to improved memory, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. This cognitive stimulation helps to delay cognitive decline in older age.
Please do note while we try to ensure all books suggested are appropriate we would advise parents to ensure they are happy with the books their child selects.
Reading is the most important activity your child can do in order to make progress in all subjects. Attitudes to reading are developed and learnt from parents. Then, as we get older, this love of reading should continue to be supported and encouraged both at home and school.
In order to continue to promote the love of reading for pleasure we have suggested some books across each of our subjects to promote reading more widely. These 'Reading Canons' have been divided into Year groups and we would ask that your child tries to complete at least 5 books a year from these canons. Please do click on the relevant Year group below to access the suggested titles from our teachers/subject areas.
How to support reading at home
Set a Reading Routine
Encourage your child to read regularly, even if it’s just for 15-20 minutes each day. Consistency is key to building a reading habit. Designating a specific time for reading, such as before bed, can help develop this positive habit.
“There is no friend as loyal as a book.” – Ernest Hemingway
Create a Reading-Friendly Environment
Make sure your child has a quiet, comfortable place to read, free from distractions. Having easy access to books, whether physical copies or digital, encourages them to pick up a book whenever they have a free moment.
“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
Encourage Choice in Reading Material
Allow your child to pick books that interest them. Whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, or even comics, giving them control over what they read fosters independence and enthusiasm for reading.
“Books are a uniquely portable magic.” – Stephen King
Read Together or Discuss Books
Make reading a social activity by reading together or discussing books. You can read aloud with younger students or encourage your teen to talk about the books they’re reading. Sharing your thoughts can help spark deeper engagement with the material.
“Reading is a conversation. All books talk. But a good book listens as well.” – Mark Haddon
Lead by Example
Be a role model! If your child sees you reading, they are more likely to follow suit. Share what you’re reading, discuss it, and show excitement about books. Children often model their behavior after adults.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss
Celebrate Progress and Achievements
Praise your child’s efforts when they finish a book or make progress. Celebrate their achievements, no matter how small, to keep them motivated. You could reward them with their favorite treat, a new book, or a trip to the library.
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier
Encourage Variety
Introduce a wide range of reading materials to your child, including books on different topics, genres, and formats. This exposes them to diverse perspectives and keeps reading fresh and exciting.
“A good book is an event in my life.” – Stendhal
Use Technology
If your child prefers reading on a screen, consider e-readers or audiobooks. These can be a great way to make reading more accessible, especially for reluctant readers or those with specific learning needs.
“Audiobooks are books. They're just in a different form. They still unlock the same magic, the same ideas, and the same adventures.” – Unknown
Visit the Library
Take trips to your local library and encourage your child to explore the wide variety of books available. Many libraries also host events or reading challenges that can make reading even more exciting.
“Libraries are the gates to the future.” – Unknown
Be Patient and Supportive
Reading progress varies from child to child. If your child struggles with reading, be patient and supportive. Celebrate the effort, and remember that every bit of reading counts towards building a lifelong skill.
“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” – Albert Einstein
By fostering a love of reading at home, you’re setting your child up for academic success and encouraging their personal growth. Keep the conversation about books open, and help your child see reading as an enjoyable and enriching activity that will last a lifetime!
At Claremont High School we offer a wide range of bespoke interventions as well as whole school strategies to support readers at all levels. This includes ensuring all teachers have a responsibility for literacy and why as a school we use a school-wide agreed literacy code outlined below:
Literacy Marking Code
The following codes are to be used when marking pupils' work to improve pupils’ literacy:
Sp Spelling mistake.
P Punctuation
G Grammatical mistake
V Vocabulary – use a different word
? Meaning is unclear
// New paragraph
What do we do to promote reading at Claremont High School?
- All pupils sit a reading test and those pupils with lower reading ages identified on our central data platform for teachers to be aware of
- Reading Log books for Years 7-8 and pupils complete a reading homework a week.
- Paired reading with especially trained older pupils who work with identified pupils to encourage reading aloud; fluency and inference.
- Every English lessons in years 7-9 begins with a novel to capture the enjoyment of reading for the year and promote its importance.
- Compulsory reading book for all children as part of their school equipment: letter about this can be seen here: Letter
- Lexonik Leap is delivered by trained teachers to identified pupils on a weekly basis to develop their phonics and fluency.
- Lexonik Advanced is delivered by trained teachers to identified pupils to developed fluency and speed of de-coding therefore developing capacity for inference.
- Small group reading has been developed for identified pupils each week with a trained staff member.
- Tutorial times dedicated to reading each week.
- Book Day full of author visits/workshops around reading and featuring Bake a Book!
- Reading newsletter published regularly
- Carnegie Book Club
- Published book list of recommended reads through this link: http://www.teenreads.com/reviews
Literacy within form times
Within form time once a week pupils also engage in silent reading
Pupils are supported with their literacy through one to one support and communication with teachers