For queries regarding Literacy please contact:
Miss C Farrelly, Deputy Headteacher
cfarrelly@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk
Literacy Vision
"Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance." — Proverbs 1:5
At Mount Carmel, we strive to develop and nurture literacy skills in all pupils. Our vision is to cultivate confident, critical, and creative thinkers who engage with language in all its forms—reading, writing, speaking, and listening—with purpose and passion.
We aim to work together to enable pupils to meet their full potential: stimulating, challenging and supporting all aspects of literacy throughout the curriculum.
Literacy Policy
- To create a consistent, whole school approach to literacy.
- To raise awareness of the importance of literacy skills with staff, pupils and parents.
- To improve and develop pupils’ literacy skills in reading, writing and speaking and listening.
Reading Initiatives
Faster Reading Initiative
Mount Carmel follow the Faster Read Scheme (FR) which aims to develop the reading comprehension, interpretation and engagement of students, including ‘struggling readers ’.
The innovative pedagogy (Sussex University) combines immersive, whole-text reading of culturally diverse, engaging novels, dialogic class and peer talk, and reading strategies. English teachers deliver the 12 week programme to all classes in year 7 and 8.
https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/centre-for-international-education/projects/fasterread
Use this link to view the curriculum at Mount Carmel
Accelerated Reading Programme
All pupils in years 7 – 9 have a dedicated library lesson once a week in which they visit the school library. With teacher guidance, they select a book which they then read and quiz on. Each pupil is given a reading target to achieve for each term.
Pupils are awarded points for the quizzes that they pass and accumulate ‘Star Books’ stamps.
Certificates are awarded to pupils who achieve their targets, and they are then entered into larger prize draws.
- Millionaire Club
Pupils who manage to read 1,000,000 words are celebrated with a prestigious Millionaire badge and receive a Waterstones’ Book Voucher at the end of the year.
Literary Festival
To recognise the 2026 National Year of Reading Mount Carmel is holding a 3-day Literary Festival in January. Pupils will have the opportunity to listen to published authors and poets. There will be creative workshops and Q and As.
Reading for Learning
1. Form Time Literacy
Years 7 – 10 spend one morning a week focused on literacy. With their form tutor, pupils read a short extract from a text and then use reciprocal reading strategies to ensure that the text is understood:
- Prediction
- Clarifying Vocabulary,
- Questioning
- Summarising
2. Comprehension Lessons
Pupils have a dedicated comprehension lesson where they explore a text that compliments the topic that they are studying in their English lessons. English staff model fluent reading and reinforce the strategies of:
- Prediction
- Clarifying Vocabulary,
- Questioning
- Summarising
Literacy Support
All pupils are screened for their reading ages when they begin year 7 and if they join the school.
Pupils are placed on intervention pathways should their reading scores suggest that they need this.
Mount Carmel Intervention Pathways
- Phonics
Phonics develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the relationship between written symbols and sounds. This involves the skills of hearing, identifying and using the patterns of sounds or phonemes to read written language. The aim is to systematically teach pupils the relationship between these sounds and the written spelling patterns, or graphemes, which represent them.
Pupils attend phonics sessions 3 times a week and work in small groups.
- Fluency
The ability to apply and identify the correct pronunciation of written words immediately and without conscious effort.
Pupils attend two fluency sessions a week:
- Read a piece of text independently to monitor their accuracy, automaticity and prosody. Reading_Fluency_Glossary_1.0.pdf
- Work in a small group to go over the text and ensure vocabulary is understood and pronounced correctly. Text is modelled by staff and phrase marked. Pupils then use strategies such as choral echoing to repeat the text accurately.
- Buddy Reading
- Pupils in year 7 work once a week, during form time, with a reading buddy from year 10.
- Year 10 pupils have been trained by the Coram Beanstalk Charity to mentor younger students, helping them to improve their reading skills and confidence.
Recommended Reading Lists
Books for KS3 children aged 11-14 | School Reading List
Resources for Parents
Why Reading Matters
Reading is essential for academic success, personal development, and spiritual growth. At KS3 and KS4, students encounter more complex texts across subjects. Your support can make a big difference in helping them build confidence and comprehension.
1. Create a Reading-Friendly Environment
- Set aside quiet time for reading each day.
- Encourage reading for pleasure—fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and faith-based texts.
- Provide access to books at home, libraries, or online platforms.
2. Talk About What They Read
- Discuss the book that your child is reading.
- Ask open-ended questions: “What did you think of that character’s decision?” or “What do you think will happen next?”
- Discuss themes and vocabulary.
3. Model Reading
- Let your child see you reading—books, newspapers.
- Share your thoughts and reflections on what you read.
4. Support School Reading Goals
- Stay informed about reading lists and assignments.
- Encourage completion of reading library books.
- Attend school literacy events or parent workshops.
5. Use Online Resources
- Oxford Owl – Free eBooks and reading tips.
- BBC Bitesize – KS3/KS4 English support.
6. Encourage Writing
- Support creative writing, journaling, or blogging.
- Celebrate their efforts and progress.
Read related news articles https://mountcarmelhigh.co.uk/news/tag/literacy
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