Reading

Promoting a love of reading is at the heart of Billericay School. Reading is essential for students to achieve the best outcomes, supports their future career opportunities and enriches their education and knowledge of the world. We encourage all students to read widely and become confident readers with strong literacy and oracy skills. 

Our aim to promote a love of reading is supported in both lessons and the wider school. Reading underpins our curriculum; all subjects develop subject specific vocabulary alongside regular opportunities to investigate different genres of writing. Students are exposed to academic literature that develops their subject knowledge.

As part of our curriculum we offer sedicated reading lessons support all students in Key Stage 3. Students in Years 7 and 8 take part in the Accelerated Reader Programme, with reading lessons where students can become word millionaires. In Year 9 students have reading for pleasure lessons.

We will further support our younger readers with our 6th form reading scheme from November. Year 12 students will read with small groups of students during their reading lessons to develop fluency and engage with different vocabulary. 

We also have literacy groups in Years 7, 8 and 9. Students complete a LIT programme that boosts students' comprehension, thinking and learning skills. The school also offers the Ruth Miskin Literacy (RML) which is a highly effective phonics programme.

Beyond the classroom we have weekly form time reading programme. Year 7 and 8 students are reading a book using the 'faster reading' technique. They will read a complete book as a form class.

Year 7 students are reading 'The Goldfish Boy' by Lisa Thompson.

Year 8 students are reading 'You Are Awesome' by Matthew Syed.

Years 9, 10 and 11 read twice per week in form time. All students should bring a reading book to school. We encourage students to read from a wide range of genres and all students can access our wonderful library where students can study independently, prepare for future lessons and read for pleasure.