ERIC (Everybody Reading in Class) is a key feature in all lessons across the Academy. ERIC consists of nine reading strategies that are actively taught across all subjects and curriculums. Once per half term is Reading Week. Reading Week involves a short ‘Do Now’ task for all students to complete in every lesson, every day that week. The focus can range from fiction, non- fiction and subject areas. We promote the importance of reading as much as possible.

KS3 students will be placed in a pathway in accordance with their reading ability. This is based on their NGRT reading test results and Key stage 2 data. The pathways are as follows:

• Reading Intervention/Fresh Start
• Carry on Reading
• Carry on Reading plus
• Book Club
• Olympic Reader
• ACET Children’s Book Award

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.

NGRT testing

We recognise that students don’t always begin their journey at Aston Academy with an age -related reading age, and therefore require more support. Therefore, on entry, students are tested via the NGRT programme to establish their reading age at the beginning of the academic year and approximately half way through the year. We use this data to identify students who require intervention to help support them. This is conducted by trained staff and comprises of a range of programmes: Fresh Start/Phonics, Reading Wise, Rapid Plus and Reading Plus. The students who are on the Reading Intervention, Carry on Reading and Carry On Reading Plus pathways begin with intervention first.

Post 16 Reading Ambassadors

Post 16 Reading Ambassadors assist with supporting students with their reading comprehension and fluency. The Reading Ambassadors meet with students once per week for 30 minutes reading time in the library. The Reading Ambassadors have been provided with a prompt card to aid them to formulate good quality discussions around characters and key events. The ERIC strategies also feature on the prompt card as a regular reminder to students.

ACET Book Award

We currently have approximately  150 students across Key Stage 3 who have been selected to take part in the ACET Book Award because they have a high reading age. The Award comprises of reading up to 14 books and completing enrichment activities the compliment the characters and events.

Competitions- writing and poetry

We engage in national writing competitions when they are launched. This includes poetry and short story writing.  We will ensure these are promoted in classes and via the Academy’s social media channels.

Library

Our Library is a vibrant, welcoming space that we are very proud of! We have a range of exciting fiction and non -fiction texts to read. Library stock is regularly reviewed to ensure we have the most popular options. All students are encouraged to use the library to borrow books. There are some amazing displays and we celebrate key texts linked to the literacy calendar. We have some fabulous competitions and prizes to give away during World Book Day.

Faculties

In addition to the library, we have two reading spaces in school: English and Humanities. Students are encouraged to use these spaces to read quietly and borrow books.

Post 16

There is a ‘Borrow a Book’ box located in the Post 16 area for Post 16 students.

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 are 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

Bronze Medal Booklet

Silver Medal Booklet