Key Stage 2 Literacy curriculum 

The Key Stage 2 curriculum is designed to ensure that students continue to develop their reading, writing and oracy skills. Built around the national curriculum criteria, it promotes literacy across subjects and topics as well as having key literacy specific lessons. Students also benefit from access to the school library and support from the Librarian in choosing interesting and challenging books. Reading diaries are used to ensure support from home in developing students’ love of reading from an early age. 

Developing disciplinary literacy across the school 

Each curriculum area sets out its own strategies for supporting the development of literacy in their subject. These are captured in the subject Disciplinary literacy protocols which show how subject areas promote. Teachers support the use of literacy in lessons, ensuring that key terms and structures are used as well as promoting reading an oracy. 

Developing reading for pleasure and for success 

Use of DEAR time (20 minutes every week) and Library lessons at Key Stage 3 help to promote and encourage a love of reading. The school Librarians support students in choosing books as well as monitoring what books are read in years 7 and 8. 

The library is also used as a hub for promoting books relevant to national and local events such as world book day, brilliant book awards, Valentines day and Remembrance. 

Supporting literacy for students with lower levels of literacy 

Students are identified for additional support with Literacy via their key stage 2 data, NGRT tests taken at the start of Year 7, as well as through continued teacher assessments. Identified students receive additional support in year 7 through targeted literacy support sessions, in Years 8&9 through Literacy lessons (in place of a second language) and in years 10&11 through the study support programme (in place of a 4th option).