Reading
I read for pleasure and that is the moment I learn the most. ~ Margaret Atwood
Reading is a fundamental skill that all young people will need as they move through their learning journey at Bay House and transition into the wider world. Our aim is to ensure that all pupils read widely and often. We support readers to be confident and fluent whilst challenging them to access texts above their chronological age that enrich, inspire and broaden pupils’ experiences of the world.
The School Library
Details about the school library can be found here.
Reading Canon
The Reading Canon has been designed to provide pupils with a list of books that are engaging, diverse, inclusive and suited to each year group. The books have been chosen as they link to the school curriculum whilst also challenging our pupils with reading. Pupils are encouraged to read as many of the recommended texts which have been linked to a number of reading initiatives in school.
Reading Across the Curriculum
Here at Bay House, we firmly believe that all teachers are teachers of Reading. Literacy Champions in every subject are working on embedding key explicit Literacy and Reading teaching strategies within their departments.
Library Lessons
Structured library lessons every four weeks provide pupils with the opportunity to explore a variety of genres and authors, offers time for shared and private reading and is a way of encouraging wider reading. By offering pupils dedicated reading for pleasure time, we hope that this, in turn, supports our whole school reading culture, the importance of reading widely and the benefits reading has on our wellbeing and academic progress.
Interventions
At Bay House, all pupils in Year 7-10 are tested termly using Renaissance STAR Reader. Pupils identified in KS3 that require further support with reading have access to bespoke intervention sessions.
How to support your child with reading
Please see our useful guide HERE on supporting your child’s reading progress.
Library Reading Events Calendar 2025-2026
| September 6th – National Read a Book Day 13th – Roald Dahl Day Year 7 library Inductions KS3 library lessons (Techno Thrillers) |
October 1st – 31st – Black History Month 1st – 31st – Horror Genre Month (including KS3 library lessons theme of vampires) 2nd – National Poetry Day 9th – Harry Potter Book Day 10th – World Mental Health Day |
November 1st – 30th – National Non-Fiction November 5th – Bonfire Night 11th – Remembrance Day 18th – High Five a Librarian Day! KS3 library lessons (Myths & Legends) |
| December 1st – 31st – Festivities Month (including Christmas) Jólabókaflóð – the Christmas book flood KS3 library lessons (festive readings) |
January 27th – Holocaust Memorial Day 28th – Library Shelfie Day (selfies with your favourite book event) KS3 library lessons (Cold Climates) |
February 2st – 8th Feb – National Storytelling Week 9th – 15th – Children’s Mental Health Week 4th – World Read Aloud Day 17th Feb – 3rd Mar – Chinese New Year 9th – 13th – Library Lovers Blind date a book event. KS3 library lessons (National Storytelling Week theme) |
| March 2nd – 7th – National Careers Week 5th – World Book Day 8th – International Women’s Day 20th – Comic Relief (Red Nose Day) KS3 library lessons (World Book Day East Asian culture/Manga & Anime comic con) |
April 22nd – Earth Day 23rd – Shakespeare Day 23rd – World Book Night KS3 library lessons (Alternate Histories genre) |
May 22nd – Sherlock Holmes Day KS3 library lessons (Science Fiction Genre) |
| June 1st-30th – Pride Month 12th – National Empathy Day 15th – 21st – Refugee Week 24th – National Writing Day KS3 library lessons (Superheroes/Villains in fiction) |
July Year 6 Transition KS3 library lessons (Summer Reads) |
August Summer Reading Challenge |