Research shows that reading for pleasure makes a big difference in educational performance. By expanding vocabulary, making sense of language in different contexts, and decoding new information, reading unlocks and expands a range of general knowledge and a better understanding of other cultures. In fact, reading for pleasure is more likely to determine academic achievement in school compared to any social or economic background.
Parents are the most important educators in facilitating reading, even more so than their teachers, and it is never too late to start encouraging reading. Keeping your children interested in stories can help them find books engaging and fun.
Our interventions
London Academy runs a series of interventions to nurture our students’ progress on their reading journey:
Recently refurbished, the London Academy library is a welcoming space where students can easily borrow a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction books to read at home. With its new shelves and sofas, it is now a lovely area that encourages students to both read and work!
The library is organised into fiction sections for KS3 and KS4 plus, in addition to non-fiction and study sections, so students will easily be able to find books that suit their reading age.
Please encourage your children to come and loan books from the library and speak about their reading at home. Students should speak to the English department if there are any books they would like to see in the library.
A positive way to start the day: DEAR
Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) is a great opportunity to create excitement around reading for pleasure and the London Academy runs every morning before lessons. It sends a message that reading is important, not only for improving grades and literary comprehension but as something everyone should make time for.
DEAR has seen a rise in student reading ages since launching. By creating time to read in a guided, structured setting, students are immersed in a world of different texts to improve fluency, comprehension and critical thinking. DEAR is a wonderful way to start the school day.
