Reading
ACET Reading Priorities: A shared vision for reading
Our Vision for Reading at Aston Academy
Our vision is to develop students who:
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Are fluent, confident and capable readers.
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Are passionate about reading and writing.
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Are resilient, independent and motivated learners.
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Feel confident reading aloud in front of others.
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Have access to targeted support and intervention to develop their reading skills, confidence and independence.
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Have an awareness of the wide range of texts available and have opportunities to explore diverse topics, themes and perspectives through reading.
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Can apply their reading knowledge and skills to new topics and increasingly complex ideas across all subjects as they progress through the Academy.
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Can transfer their reading skills and knowledge to new experiences and situations in the wider world.
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Have regular opportunities to discover new topics, ideas and perspectives.
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Are curious, engaged and enthusiastic about learning.
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Take pride in their reading achievements and progress.
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Leave Aston Academy with a secure, useful and confident grasp of reading skills, ready to embrace the next stage of their lives.
ERIC
ERIC (Everybody Reading in Class) is a key feature of teaching and learning across Aston Academy. It provides a consistent whole-school approach to developing students’ reading skills, with nine reading strategies explicitly taught and embedded across all subjects and the curriculum.
To further promote a culture of reading, Reading Week takes place once every half term. During Reading Week, every lesson begins with a short ‘Do Now’ reading activity, giving all students the opportunity to read, engage with and respond to a range of texts throughout the week.
Reading Week activities encompass fiction, non-fiction and subject-specific texts, allowing students to explore a wide variety of topics, ideas and perspectives while strengthening their reading skills across the curriculum.
ACET Reading Pathways
At KS3, students are placed into a reading pathway that reflects their individual reading ability, needs and interests. Pathway placement is informed by students’ NGRT reading assessment results and Key Stage 2 reading data, ensuring that students receive appropriate levels of support and challenge as they progress through the Academy.
Our reading pathways are designed to develop reading confidence, fluency and independence, while encouraging students to engage with a wide range of texts and develop a genuine enjoyment of reading.
The pathways are:
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Reading Intervention / Fresh Start – targeted support for students who require additional intervention to develop their reading skills, fluency and confidence.
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Carry on Reading – supporting students to develop positive reading habits, broaden their reading experiences and read regularly.
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Carry on Reading Plus – providing additional challenge and opportunities to develop comprehension, vocabulary and deeper reading skills.
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Book Club – encouraging students to explore and discuss a range of books, share ideas and develop a love of reading.
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Olympic Reader – providing opportunities for students to challenge themselves through reading a range of texts and developing their reading stamina and independence.
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ACET Children’s Book Award – engaging students with a selection of high-quality children's and young adult literature while encouraging them to read, discuss and evaluate different texts.
KS3 Reading lessons
Students have a dedicated hour per week during an English lesson to read a class novel with their teacher. The teacher reads aloud to the group and actively teaches the ERIC strategies. Alongside reading, students complete a range of ERIC strategies in a booklet. Discussion work is also promoted during the reading sessions to develop collaboration, oracy and listening skills. Our intention is that all students have access to, and experience, a wide range of texts during their time with us.
We currently study the following fiction novels:
Year 7
Once by Morris Gleitzmann
Oranges in No Man’s Land – Elizabeth Laird
Year 8
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
Year 9
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
Form Time Reading
This year, we have allocated 30 minutes of form time per week to reading. During this time, students will learn new vocabulary and read a range of non -fiction texts. Depending on their reading pathway, they will be either engaging in a class read or read independently.
Intervention
We recognise that students do not always begin their journey at Aston Academy with a reading age that is in line with their chronological age and may therefore require additional support to develop their reading skills.
On entry to the Academy, students complete an NGRT (New Group Reading Test) to establish their reading age and identify their individual reading needs. NGRT testing is carried out at the beginning of the academic year and approximately halfway through the year, allowing us to monitor progress and identify students who may require additional support.
The data gathered from NGRT assessments is used to inform our reading pathways and identify students who would benefit from targeted reading intervention. Interventions are delivered by trained staff and include a range of programmes, such as:
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Fresh Start / Phonics
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Reading Wise
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Rapid Plus
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Reading Plus
Students identified for the Reading Intervention, Carry On Reading and Carry On Reading Plus pathways begin with targeted intervention to support the development of their reading accuracy, fluency, comprehension and confidence. Their progress is monitored regularly to ensure that provision is responsive to their individual needs.
Competitions & Rewards
Competitions: Writing & Poetry
At Aston Academy, we love celebrating creativity and giving every student the opportunity to discover the power of words. Throughout the year, we take part in exciting national writing competitions, including poetry and short-story challenges, giving students the chance to express themselves, explore new ideas and showcase their writing talents.
Poetry & Short Stories
From imaginative adventures and gripping tales to powerful poems, students can experiment with different writing styles, share their ideas and find their own unique voice.
World Book Day Competitions
We also organise special competitions to celebrate World Book Day, inspiring students to get creative, explore their love of books and celebrate the magic of reading and writing.
Every Voice Matters
Whether students love writing stories, creating poetry or simply trying something new, these competitions are a fantastic opportunity to build confidence, develop literacy skills and celebrate their creativity.
Keep an eye out for upcoming competitions! Opportunities will be promoted in lessons and through the Academy’s social media channels, so everyone has the chance to get involved.
Reading Spaces
The library at Aston Academy is a calm, welcoming and inclusive space for all students. It fosters a strong sense of community, providing students with a safe and inviting environment where they can read, study, complete homework and explore their creativity.
Reading is central to our curriculum, and the library plays an important role in supporting this. It offers a wide and varied collection of fiction and non-fiction books, alongside computers that students can access before school, at break and during lunchtime for research, homework and independent learning.
Our collection includes books across a broad range of genres, interests and reading abilities as well as dedicated dyslexia-friendly texts. We regularly speak with students to find out what they enjoy reading and what they would like to see in the library. This helps us to continually develop our collection and ensure that our books reflect the interests and needs of our students.
Throughout the academic year, we encourage students to get involved in a range of creative writing opportunities and competitions. These include poetry competitions, short story competitions and creative challenges such as designing a book cover for World Book Day. These activities give students the opportunity to express themselves, develop their creativity and celebrate their love of reading and writing.
Our Library is so much more than just a room in a school – it is a community where every student is a reader, every student is welcome, and everyone is encouraged to explore new worlds, discover new vocabulary, develop their interests and build confidence in a safe and supportive environment.
Form Time Reading
KS3 students have been placed in a reading pathway based on their NGRT result from the summer term. They will read for one form session per week. Students completing the following in each pathway:
ACET Children's Book Award: Reading Independently and completing enrichment activities
Olympic Reader: Reading independently
Book Club: Reading a class novel and completing the Bronze, Silver, Gold Booklets
Carry on Reading+: Short story/novel
Carry on Reading: Short story/novel
Intervention: Short story/novel