Literacy & Reading
At Harris Academy Chobham, we passionately believe that every student deserves a curriculum that not only sharpens their literacy but also kindles a lifelong passion for reading and writing.
We are committed to equipping each student with the essential skills and experiences needed to confidently engage with and fully enjoy our ambitious curriculum.
Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." Frederick Douglass
We envision every child leaving our Academy as an enthusiastic, lifelong reader, adept at writing, speaking, and listening with fluency, precision, and passion. Mastery of literacy is the gateway through which students access knowledge, understand their place in the world, and prepare to seize the opportunities and challenges of tomorrow.
Our provision
At Harris Academy Chobham, we champion literacy through six core strands:
- Promoting reading for pleasure
- Supporting less able readers
- Embedding reading across the curriculum
- Teaching academic vocabulary
- Enhancing students’ oracy
- Developing students’ writing
Our staff receive ongoing, high-quality literacy training to ensure every student excels in reading, writing, and speaking. In every subject, academic vocabulary is taught through strategies that combine practice and rehearsal to firmly embed new learning.
Reading aloud: a shared journey from EYFS to Year 13
At our academy, reading aloud is a cornerstone of our literacy approach, inspiring a shared love of literature from the earliest years through to Year 13 and is fully integrated with our PD and Values curriculum. In primary, daily story time sessions feature engaging, relevant texts that nurture a love of language while reinforcing our core values. In secondary, our Book Club (Years 7–13) meets once a week during tutor time, where the entire class reads the same diverse and challenging text, with the form tutor modelling effective reading practices. This all-through approach not only cultivates regular reading habits but also builds a cohesive, values-driven literary community across the academy.
Bedrock Vocabulary (Year 5 - 9)
At Harris Academy Chobham, we believe that mastering essential "tier two" words, namely academic and high-leverage vocabulary common across subjects, is key to fully engaging with curriculum texts, writing, and oracy tasks. To support this, we use Bedrock Vocabulary, a computer-aided tool designed to build these crucial skills. In primary (Years 5 and 6), Bedrock is offered as an optional activity, while in secondary (KS3) it forms a part of our homework offer. Through online lessons featuring both fiction and non-fiction texts, students learn and then apply new vocabulary in their writing. Their progress is closely monitored by their form tutor, and the program regularly adjusts to meet each learner's needs.
The website can be accessed via this link: https://app.bedrocklearning.org/
If your child has lost their username or password, please get in contact with their Head of Year Achievement who will be able to support you with retrieving this.
Accelerated Reader (Years 2 - 9)
Accelerated Reader (AR) is an engaging programme used from Year 2 to Year 9 to support and track students' independent reading progress. Year 2 students begin using AR after completing Read Write Inc. At the beginning of each term, students take a Star Test to determine their reading level, then select a book within their level to read over the course of a week or two. After reading, they take a quiz that helps assess their comprehension, encouraging them to recall what they’ve read. The quizzes are tailored to the book length, and students complete them independently to demonstrate their understanding.
We encourage daily reading, with pupils expected to read for 20-30 minutes each day. This consistent practice not only boosts reading fluency and comprehension but also fosters a love of reading. The data from Star Tests and quizzes allow teachers to provide targeted support, ensuring every child continues to make great progress and enjoys their reading journey.
If your child has lost their username or password, please get in contact info@chobhamacademy.org.uk
Literacy interventions and support
To support less able readers, including those with SEND, the Academy has developed a structured, graduated programme of reading and phonics interventions. These targeted provisions ensure that every student receives the appropriate support needed to make measurable progress in their reading. Jointly led by the SEND and English teams, this programme leverages the expertise of trained staff to deliver high-quality, evidence-based instruction.
Our Literacy Support programme includes:
- Fresh Start Phonics
- Sounds Write
- Reading Comprehension Groups
- Lexia Literacy
- Hackney LIT Programme
- Fluency Focus Literacy Support Groups
By reinforcing phonics, enhancing comprehension, and developing reading fluency, we empower students with the skills and confidence to become independent, proficient readers. In primary, we have a dedicated reading intervention teacher who uses the STAR reader quizzes from AR to make diagnostic assessments and tailor sessions for the bottom 20% of readers. Focus pupils throughout the school are identified and known by all teachers, ensuring consistent support and tracking of their progress.
The Academy libraries
Our libraries sit at the heart of our Academy, providing vibrant, inclusive spaces for all students. We are fortunate to have both a primary and a secondary library, each filled with thousands of books, offering a wealth of resources for every age group. Students have access to Accessit, allowing them to easily choose books that suit their interests and write reviews for each other, fostering a love of reading and community engagement.
Our secondary library is led by Mrs. Burlace, our dedicated librarian, and is stocked with an exciting range of fiction and non-fiction titles, celebrating diverse voices and ensuring every student can see themselves reflected in the books they read. The primary library is maintained by our dedicated team of KS2 student librarians, who play an active role in organising and managing the space. Regularly updated themed displays, highlighting events such as Black History Month, South Asian Heritage Month, and LGBT+ History Month, keep the spaces engaging and relevant. Our ‘Shelf Help’ bookcase in secondary, aligned with the Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme, supports students' mental health and wellbeing, and we work closely with the safeguarding and welfare department to provide personalised guidance for every individual.
With well-organised and continually refreshed collections, both libraries inspire a lifelong passion for reading and learning across our Academy.
Celebrations of Reading, Writing and Speaking
Literacy is a key focus throughout the academic year, celebrated through events like World Book Day and Performing Arts Week.
Celebrating Reading
Accelerated Reader encourages pupils to read widely, with competitions and rewards making it exciting. Through the Carnegie Shadowing Scheme, students read, critique, and vote on shortlisted books. T
Celebrating Writing
We foster creativity and confidence in writing through storytelling workshops, poetry competitions, and cross-curricular challenges. In primary, the Poetry by Heart competition and World Book Day activities allow students to share their work, which is proudly displayed and celebrated.
Celebrating Speaking and Performance
Speaking and performance are central to our literacy culture. Performing Arts Week brings literature to life with interactive drama workshops. Our Drama and English departments collaborate on storytelling experiences to develop expression, confidence, and communication skills.
Literacy is also embedded in key events such as Black History Month and Holocaust Memorial Day, where pupils engage with powerful texts that spark reflection and discussion, enhancing their literacy skills across all subjects.
Monitoring and assessment of student literacy
In primary, students' literacy skills are continuously assessed, starting with the Read Write Inc. (RWI) programme, which provides a strong foundation for reading and phonics. Read more about phonics and early reading. Regular assessments following this, such as Star Reader quizzes, diagnose students' Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) levels, helping teachers tailor their instruction to meet individual needs. These quizzes, alongside termly reading data and teacher assessments, enable staff to monitor progress and identify students who may require additional support, particularly those in the bottom 20%. This data-driven approach ensures that interventions can be targeted effectively, with a focus on improving reading and comprehension skills.
As students progress through primary, their literacy development is continually tracked to ensure that they are making measurable gains, with support adjusted as needed. This comprehensive assessment process helps identify specific areas for improvement, allowing teachers to provide targeted interventions and ensure that every student has the opportunity to become a confident, independent reader.
In secondary, all students' literacy skills are assessed at the start of their Academy journey through standardised tests like the NGRT and Lucid Exact reading tests. These assessments evaluate key aspects of literacy, such as reading comprehension, spelling, and handwriting speed, providing a baseline for further development. Students are also assessed annually through the NGRT to track their reading progress. Writing and speaking skills are assessed across the curriculum through ongoing formative and summative assessments, ensuring that all areas of literacy are monitored and supported.
