Attending Trafalgar School is like being part of a family
Year 8 Student

Encouraged Reading

The development of student’s literacy is at the forefront of our curriculum as we understand how reading  can bridge cultural capital deficits and improve student’s educational outcomes and life chances. We ensure pupils have opportunity to access challenging reading texts across subjects, high quality interventions and have opportunities to read for pleasure.

  • Make books a part of family life – Always have books around at home. That way you and your children are ready to get reading, even if it’s only for ten minutes.
  • Join your local library. Get your child a library card. They’ll be able to get their hands on hundreds of fantastic books, as well as the latest video games, blu-rays and DVDs. Let them choose what they want to read to help them develop their own interests.
  • Read about something they’re interested in. help your child find the right book for them. It doesn't matter if it's fiction, poetry, comic books or non-fiction.
  • All reading is good. Don’t rule out non-fiction, comics, graphic novels, magazines or leaflets. Reading is reading and it’s all worthwhile.
  • Get comfortable! Snuggle up together somewhere warm and cosy, whether it’s in bed, on a beanbag or on the sofa. Make sure your child has somewhere comfy to read on their own too.
  • Ask questions. To keep them interested in the story, ask your child questions as you read. Start with ‘Where did we get to last time?’, ‘Can you remember what’s happened so far?’ and 'What do you think will happen next?'.
  • Read whenever you get the chance. Have a book or magazine with you for any time your child has to wait, like at the doctor's or the dentist.
  • Read favourites again and again. Encourage your child to re-read the books and poems they love. Re-reading helps to build fluency and confidence.
  • Model reading for enjoyment as much as possible. Demonstrate how enjoyable reading can be by showing your child how much you enjoy reading!

Selected for you by Trafalgar students:

  • A Child Called It by Dave Peltzer
  • Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
  • Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid by Coolkyousinnjya
  • Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan
  • The Boy in Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
  • The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
  • The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by CS Lewis
  • The Longest Whale Song by Jacqueline Wilson
  • The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
  • Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
  • Charlie and The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
  • The Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett
  • Emma by Jane Austen
  • Gone by Michael Grant
  • The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
  • The Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare
  • Pig Heart Boy by Malorie Blackman
  • The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
  • Lucky Star by Cathy Cassidy
  • Cogheart by Peter Bunzl
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth
  • My Sister Jodie by Jacqueline Wilson
  • A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snickett
  • The White Giraffe by Lauren St John
  • Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
  • To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini
  • War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
  • Wonder by RJ Palacio
  • The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney
  • Dork Diaries by Rachael Renee Russell
  • Middle School Escape to Australia by James Patterson
  • Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine
  • The Skullduggary Pleasant series by Derek Landy
  • The Stormbreaker Series by Anthony Horowitz
  • The Diamond Brothers series by Anthony Horowitz
  • The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
  • The Maze Runner by James Dashner
  • The Witches by Roald Dahl
  • The Vampire Diaries series by LJ Smith

We encourage students to read across the curriculum and encourage students to do so using a range of strategies.

Reading Leaders

Students have been given the opportunity to apply to become Reading Leaders in order to promote our reading culture around the school and community.

Drop Everything And Read

Ten minutes at the start of lesson 3 every day is DEAR time when every student in the school reads independently for ten minutes.  To ensure that DEAR time is purposeful across the curriculum, students are given or guided towards a text which connects to their learning, increases their cultural capital and enables constructive discussion at the start of the lesson.

Trafalgar Big Read

During one tutor session a week, all tutor groups participate in the shared reading of a selected whole school novel.  Shared reading during tutor time is beneficial in that it demonstrates the reading process explicitly through the questioning, comprehension and word solving strategies that confident readers have. 

Football Reading Stars

Football Reading Stars is an extra-curricular club which combines reading and football.  Selected students who are reluctant readers in year 7 and 8 take part in a ten-week course.  The course is designed and planned by the National Literacy Trust and successfully encourages reluctant readers to develop their reading skills and a love of reading with a chance to play football and learn new skills.

Annual Reading Assessment

Every student in Years 7-10 are assessed using the GL EXACT reading assessment.  This is a comprehensive assessment of reading ability and allows us to pinpoint areas that require improvement.