Reading at Home

“Literacy is key to learning across all subjects in secondary school and a strong predictor of outcomes in later life.” – Education Endowment Foundation.

At Burnley High School, we build vocabulary rich students through our curriculum with a focus on reading within every subject and during Personal Development time.  As well as the work learners complete school, any reading they do in their own time will build and embed their written and oral vocabulary and grow their confidence.

How can parents & carers encourage reading?

• Create your own mini library – find somewhere within the home or your child’s bedroom to display their books and keep them safe.
• Read as a family – Talk to your child about the books you are reading or have read. Encourage older siblings to read to younger ones and it does not always have to be a book. Direct your child to interesting articles in the newspaper or a magazine, they could even read the ingredients list of your favourite recipe!
• Visit your local libraries – There is an abundance of books and other reading materials not that far away and it is all free!
• Contact us – If in doubt about what is suitable for your child to be reading, or you just want some advice, get in touch with the school and we will be more than happy to give suggestions.

Our Literacy Vision

At Burnley High School we are passionate about developing literacy skills across the curriculum and aim to support all students in their efforts to improve. We believe that in order to remove potential barriers to learning, there is carefully planned literacy provision so that our pupils’ literacy needs are addressed to help them make better progress.

All members of our school community support the drive to raise standards by having consistently high expectations:

• Support pupils’ reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in order to impact on their overall achievement and attainment to further raise standards across the school.
• Students reading ages are monitored through ‘Literacy Assessment Online’, allowing us to provide targeted intervention and support for students who are below their reading age.
• Designated form time reading each week, encouraging a love of reading for all students. Within this, targeted reading intervention will take place through our Literacy Ambassador programme, providing extra support to students who lack in confidence or are a cause for concern due to their reading ability.
• In all subjects, staff encourage and promote accuracy in students’ written work and draw attention to literacy errors.
• Oracy is encouraged across the school to develop students speaking and listening skills.

World Book Day is a big event at Burnley High School to promote a love of reading and encourage students to access a wide range of texts through World Book Day specific lessons across the curriculum.