King Edward VI Five Ways School
Scotland Lane, Bartley Green,
Birmingham, B32 4BT
Tel: 0121 475 3535
Beyond the Classroom
Reading for Pleasure and Interest
A growing number of studies show that promoting reading can have a major impact on children and adults and their future. Upon reviewing the research literature, Clark and Rumbold (2006) identify several main areas of the benefits to reading for pleasure: • Reading attainment and writing ability; • Text comprehension and grammar; • Breadth of vocabulary; • Positive reading attitudes; • Greater self-confidence as a reader; • Pleasure in reading in later life; • General knowledge; • A better understanding of other cultures; • Community participation; and • A greater insight into human nature and decision-making. Evidence suggests that reading for pleasure leads to increased attainment. Clark and DeZoya (2011) found a significant positive relationship between enjoyment and attainment indicating that pupils who read more are also better readers.
Department For Education
Five Ways is committed to ensuring all learners have a diet of interesting and challenging texts to consult and read beyond the curriculum, whilst also offering the time to read a range of student-chosen texts within the school day and beyond. Not only is this about nurturing good habits for a life-long love of reading, but to ensure the wellbeing of all Five Ways’ readers and learners. In the English dept there is a reading list for all Key Stages:
DEER (Drop Everything; Everyone Reads)
Every Wednesday during form time, all students and staff from years 8-13 are invited to read their own texts for 25 minutes. Readers are invited to escape from the business and busyness of the typical school day, through the written word, into the world of the novel, short story or real life non fiction. Year 12 and 13 have a more academic focus via the world of JSTOR. Year 7 students are invited to engage with a guided reading programme with their form tutor, enabling discussion to take place surrounding the texts chosen. All staff are encouraged to display a poster on their classroom door with a book recommendation about their own reading interests. There are also display boards around the school showing books organised by subjects; thus stimulating ideas for the next great pleasurable read…
Fairytales at
Five Ways
The Book Club is a student-run initiative where like-minded students can share their opinions about self-chosen books. Challenges and opinions can be shared via a Google Classroom VLE. Indeed the next Book Club challenge commences on the 13th June.