Reading at Houlton
“Our pupils' success in all subjects will be defined by their ability to read fluently and skilfully." Alex Quigley, Closing the Reading Gap (2020)
At Houlton School we know that literacy is key to success across all subjects, is a strong predictor of later life outcomes, and plays a crucial role in improving students’ future life chances and social mobility. Therefore, reading is very important at Houlton School and has a central place in every classroom.
We deliver weekly Reading for Meaning sessions across subject lessons, placing a clear and consistent focus on academic reading at the centre of learning in every classroom. The Education Endowment Fund (EEF) guidance emphasises that disciplinary literacy - teaching students how to read, write and think effectively within each subject - directly supports stronger academic performance across the curriculum. In line with this evidence, our teachers carefully select knowledge and vocabulary-rich texts. Teachers read the texts aloud to model expert fluency, helping students access challenging vocabulary, deepen comprehension and engage more confidently with subject-specific knowledge. Students are explicitly taught an active reading strategy through five key steps: predict, activate, clarify, question and summarise, equipping them with practical habit-forming tools to approach increasingly complex academic texts as they progress through the school.
Furthermore, students in years 7-9 have timetabled Reading lessons which provide additional dedicated opportunities for students to develop their active reading skills and their love of reading. Reading is also an embedded part of our Tutor Time programme, providing explicit vocabulary support and opportunities for reading a text together as a class. All students complete standardised Reading Age Tests throughout the year, and interventions are put in place where a need is identified.
Our reading culture is further built through student volunteer 'Reading Buddies': our year 12 students volunteer to support our year 7 and 8 students, and our year 10 students volunteer in our Primary phase. Furthermore we have an active group of Reading Ambassadors, comprising of students across all year groups, who work with our Librarian to identify opportunities to cultivate and celebrate a love of reading in all students.
Our students are encouraged to read actively and regularly outside of the classroom to help them to expand their cultural capital, vocabulary and understanding of the world around them. Reading is also encouraged as an escape from everyday life, a joyful use of time and imagination and a way to relax and unwind. Reading for pleasure is just as important as reading for learning. A few suggestions are listed by year group if you or your child are struggling with what to read next.
