Literacy
At Birchwood High School, we believe that strong literacy skills are the foundation for success across every subject. Our whole-school approach to literacy is designed to help students become confident readers, articulate speakers, and capable writers—fully prepared for academic achievement and life beyond the classroom.
‘A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies … the man who never reads lives only one.’
George R.R.Martin
Library Induction and Access
All students take part in library induction sessions, where our dedicated librarian leads engaging activities that encourage exploration of different genres and teach students how to use academic cataloguing systems effectively.
Form Tutor Led Reading
Regular reading sessions during tutor time promote reading for pleasure and expose students to a wide variety of texts. These sessions also model fluent, expressive reading, helping to build students’ confidence and comprehension.
"I liked it so we got the whole book of short stories to read at home."
Echo Reading
In these structured one-to-one sessions, students mirror the fluent reading of a skilled adult. This technique helps students improve their pronunciation, expression, and pacing, while also developing comprehension through discussion and questioning.
Writing Mastery
A key component of our Key Stage 3 curriculum, Writing Mastery explicitly teaches grammar, punctuation, and sentence construction. This structured approach ensures all students build strong foundations in written communication.
Reading for Pleasure & Critical Reading
Our Key Stage 3 English curriculum includes dedicated lessons focused on reading whole novels and developing critical reading skills. These sessions encourage deep comprehension, analytical thinking, and engagement with more complex texts.
Paired Reading Scheme
Paired Reading Scheme
This targeted initiative provides one-to-one reading support to help students develop fluency, improve comprehension, and gain confidence in their reading abilities.
We also value the vital role that families play in supporting literacy. Parents and carers can help nurture a love of reading and language at home by:
- Reading aloud with your child and discussing what you’ve read together
- Exploring new vocabulary in context
- Talking about characters, themes, and ideas in your child’s reading
- Encouraging regular visits to the library
- Demonstrating your own enjoyment of reading