Here at The Birkenhead Park School we believe that reading is an essential skill that unlocks curriculum and leads to academic success. Research also suggests that the more children read the better they perform academically.
'The Big Read' initiative was introduced in 2018 and is a daily reading programme designed to inspire a love of reading in our students , no matter what their starting point. All students in Year 7, 8, 9 & 10 take part in The Big Read every morning and students read for 30 minutes in a timetabled session with their form tutor. Teachers read aloud and each student is given a copy of the book so they can follow along.
In October 2021, The Big Read was shortlisted for the 'Innovative and Creative Literacy Award' by Educate Awards. These awards showcase examples of educational excellence in the North West.
The format
Students have 30-minute reading sessions four times a week. Form tutors lead the reading and the class follows along. Vocabulary and key themes are discussed throughout the book. Students show high levels of engagement and are given the opportunity to vote for a new book each year.
How will it be assessed and measured?
There will be two online assessments in the school year for Year 7 and 1 for 8-10. This gives each student a starting point and individual targets from which to work from, and then tracks their progress. It therefore allows everyone to improve no matter what their starting point. Students demonstrate vocabulary acquisition by taking a vocab test before and after the book is read.
Impact?
Year on year the levels of reading have improved at BPS, and this is seen in the reading profile of the school, with above national reading levels.
16 before 16 Reading Challenge
Since September 2023, our students have read over 1500 classic novels for enjoyment. We now have above national average number of students reading at the highest levels.
