RREADING EADING NNEWSLETTER EWSLETTER
RREADING EADING
Summer 2026
Recommendations
KS5
Becca Toepfer
TheHelp,byKathrynStockett Robyn FraserBigLittleLies, byLianeMoriarty TheWomen, byKristinHannah Val Spencer
Wild Swans, by Jung Chang
Cleo Headland TheLetThemTheory,byMelRobbins
Gavin Fraser-Williams How to Build Impossible Things, by Mark Ellison
Becca Toepfer Mike Li and Alistair Phillips
ASubjectTwenty-One(Tomorrow's ncestors), by A.E. Warren Mike Li
Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir
The99%InvisibleCity: AFieldGuide to the Hidden WorldofEveryday Design, by Roman Mars andKurtKohlstedtTheSecretLives ofColour, by KassiaSt Clair
Claire Marcouse
IfThisisaMan/TheTruce, by PrimoLevi
Susanne Okulitch
TheScholomanceSeries,byNaomi Novik TheCautiousTraveller'sGuidetothe Wastelands,bySarahBrooks Stoner,byJohnWilliams TheStarlessSea,byErinMorgenstern TheBriarBookoftheDead,byA.G.
Slatter
Land,byMaggieO'Farrell SlowHorses,byMickHerron TheGodoftheWoods,byLizMoore TheTimeoftheChild,byNiall Williams Vicky Ruggiero YInMemoriam,byAliceWinn esteryear,byCaroClaireBurke
RREADING EADING NNEWSLETTER
Summer 2026
KS3 Sparx Reader
We are proud of all of our students and their reading progress.
We wanted to share some highlights from September-June which our KS3 students achieved...
RREADING EADING NNEWSLETTER
Summer 2026
KS3 Sparx Reader
We are proud of all of our students and their reading progress.
We wanted to share some highlights from September-June which our KS3 students achieved... Sparx
Sparx
RREADING EADING NNEWSLETTER EWSLETTER
The Gouldstone Prize
A huge thank you to every student who entered this year's Gouldstone Prize We were delighted by the range, creativity and quality of the submissions across our short story, poetry and non-fiction categories The competition continues to showcase the remarkable talent, imagination and dedication of our young writers
Congratulations to all of our winners and highly commended entrants Their work stood out for its originality, craftsmanship and ability to engage and inspire readers We are proud to celebrate their achievements and to share their writing with our school community
This year's winning entries have been published in our Gouldstone Prize anthology, creating a lasting record of the outstanding literary talent within our school We hope you enjoy reading the collection and join us in recognising the achievements of all those who took part
Congratulations to our winners:
RREADING EADING NNEWSLETTER EWSLETTER
Summer 2026
Celebrating a whole school commitment to literacy
As another successful school year draws to a close, we are delighted to celebrate the many ways literacy has flourished across our school community
This year has seen a continued commitment to developing students' reading, writing and communication skills, with literacy embedded across all subjects and year groups Staff have been supported with a range of reading and writing resources, including literacy toolkits, writing mats and classroom displays, helping students to expand their writing, improve their vocabulary and engage more confidently with reading in every lesson
Reading has remained at the heart of school life Through our regular Company Reading Programme and regular Drop Everything and Read (D E A R ) sessions, dedicated Key Stage 3 reading lessons and the continued use of Sparx Reader, students have enjoyed regular opportunities to read, discuss texts and develop their comprehension skills
We have also worked hard to promote reading for pleasure Students enjoyed our Christmas Reading Advent Calendar, while the library has been refreshed with a range of exciting new books to encourage students to discover new authors and genres
One of the highlights of the year was our Literary Festival Students took part in workshops, browsed the book fair, supported the pre-loved book fair and embraced the fun of literary fancy dress The week provided a fantastic opportunity to celebrate books, creativity and storytelling across the whole school
Our enrichment opportunities have continued to grow The Gouldstone Prize challenged students to engage with ambitious reading and writing, while Holly's Creative Writing Club provided a space for budding authors to develop their craft and share their ideas Our Key Stage 4 Page to Stage Club also gave students the chance to explore literature through performance, bringing texts to life in exciting and memorable ways
Perhaps most pleasing of all has been the reading progress made by our students Assessment data shows that:
�� 58% of Key Stage 3 students improved their Standard Age Reading Score �� 21% of students improved their reading age
Across the year groups, students demonstrated excellent progress, with 51% of Year 7 students, 53% of Year 8 students and an impressive 68% of Year 9 students improving their Standard Age Reading Scores
These achievements reflect not only the hard work of our students but also the support of staff and families in helping to create a positive reading culture Strong literacy skills open doors across the curriculum and beyond, and we are incredibly proud of the progress our students have made
This summer term, targeted Reading and Writing Bridging support was also introduced for selected Key Stage 3 students, helping to strengthen core literacy skills, build confidence and support a successful transition into the next stage of their education
Additionally, at St Christopalooza, our pre-loved book fair raised a fantastic £130 for charity, combining reading enthusiasm with community spirit
Thank you to everyone who has supported literacy this year We look forward to building on these successes and continuing to foster a love of reading and writing throughout our school community
RREADING EADING NNEWSLETTER
Summer 2026
Celebrating KS3 Reading A whole school commitment to literacy
We are delighted to celebrate the fantastic reading progress made by our Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9) students this academic year
Over the past year we have continued to place literacy at the centre of school life and embed it across the curriculum Whether it is through targeted intervention, Company Time Reading, Drop Everything and Read (D E A R), Literary Week, Sparx Reader, literacy-focused tutor activities, or the wider promotion of reading across departments, students have been encouraged to develop not only their reading ability, but also their confidence and enjoyment of books and learning
The impact of this collective effort is becoming increasingly clear
Across Key Stage 3
Our Autumn to Summer reading assessment data shows strong pro students making significant gains in both reading age and Standard students have also maintained secure reading levels, reflecting increasing consistency, resilience, and confidence in their reading skills
58% of students improved their Standard Age Reading Score 21% of students improved their reading age
These outcomes represent much more than statistics Improved reading ability supports students across every subject area, helping them to access the curriculum more confidently, develop stronger comprehension skills, and build the independence needed for future success
Highlights Across the Year Groups
Students in Year 7 (I Group) demonstrated encouraging progress throughout the year, with 51% improving their Standard Age Reading Score and many more students moving into the Average+ reading bracket
In Year 8 (II Group), students showed strong development in reading attainment, with significant movement into higher reading bands and continued improvements in reading confidence 53% of students improved their Standard Age Reading Score
Our Year 9 (III Group) saw an impressive 68% of students improve their Standard Age Reading Score, alongside continued growth in higher attainment levels
What makes these achievements especially pleasing is the culture that sits behind them Across the school, reading is increasingly becoming something students engage with positively and regularly
This progress reflects the effort and determination shown by our students every day Well done to all staff involved and especially to Amy Anderson, Senior School Literacy Lead, for driving these initiatives forward
We are incredibly proud of the progress being made and look forward to building on this success even further in the year ahead
RREADING EADING NNEWSLETTER
Summer 2026
Pre-Loved Book Fair at St Christopalooza
Following the success of our Literary Festival in March, the Pre-Loved Book Fair returned once again, offering students the chance to pick up a great read for just £1 per book. Thanks to the wonderful generosity of families across the school, we received a fantastic range of book donations, helping to promote a love of reading while supporting a great cause.
We are delighted to share that the book fair raised an incredible £130 for charity. Thank you to everyone who donated books, purchased titles, and supported the event. Your generosity has not only helped to place hundreds of books into the hands of enthusiastic readers but has also made a meaningful contribution to an important charity.
RREADING EADING NNEWSLETTER
Summer 2026
Summer Term 2 Drop Everything and Read
D.E.A.R
Thank You, Ma’am
Langston Hughes
She was a large woman with a large purse that had everything in it but hammer and nails It had a long strap, and she carried it slung across her shoulder It was about eleven o ’clock at night, and she was walking alone, when a boy ran up behind her and tried to snatch her purse The strap broke with the single tug the boy gave it from behind But the boy’s weight and the weight of the purse combined caused him to lose his balance so, instead of taking off full blast as he had hoped, the boy fell on his back on the sidewalk, and his legs flew up the large woman simply turned around and kicked him right square in his blue-jeaned sitter Then she reached down, picked the boy up by his shirt front, and shook him until his teeth rattled
After that the woman said, “Pick up my pocketbook, boy, and give it here ” She still held him But she bent down enough to permit him to stoop and pick up her purse Then she said, “Now ain’t you ashamed of yourself?”
Firmly gripped by his shirt front, the boy said, “Yes’m ”
The woman said, “What did you want to do it for?”
The boy said, “I didn’t aim to ”
She said, “You a lie!”
By that time two or three people passed, stopped, turned to look, and some stood watching
“If I turn you loose, will you run?” asked the woman
“Yes’m,” said the boy
“Then I won’t turn you loose,” said the woman She did not release him
“I’m very sorry, lady, I’m sorry, ” whispered the boy
“Um-hum! And your face is dirty I got a great mind to wash your face for you Ain’t you got nobody home to tell you to wash your face?”
“No’m,” said the boy
“Then it will get washed this evening,” said the large woman starting up the street, dragging the frightened boy behind her
He looked as if he were fourteen or fifteen, frail and willow-wild, in tennis shoes and blue jeans
The woman said, “You ought to be my son I would teach you right from wrong Least I can do right now is to wash your face Are you hungry?”
“No’m,” said the being dragged boy “I just want you to turn me loose ”
“Was I bothering you when I turned that corner?” asked the woman
“No’m ”
“But you put yourself in contact with me, ” said the woman “If you think that that contact is not going to last awhile, you got another thought coming When I get through with you, sir, you are going to remember Mrs Luella Bates Washington Jones ”
Sweat popped out on the boy’s face and he began to struggle Mrs Jones stopped, jerked him around in front of her, put a half-nelson about his neck, and continued to drag him up the street When she got to her door, she dragged the boy inside, down a hall, and into a large kitchenette furnished room at the rear of the house She switched on the light and left the door open The boy could hear other roomers laughing and talking in the large house Some of their doors were open, too, so he knew he and the woman were not alone The woman still had him by the neck in the middle of her room
She said, “What is your name?”
“Roger,” answered the boy
“Then, Roger, you go to that sink and wash your face,” said the woman, whereupon she turned him loose at last Roger looked at the door looked at the woman looked at the door and went to the sink
Let the water run until it gets warm, ” she said “Here’s a clean towel ”
“You gonna take me to jail?” asked the boy, bending over the sink
RREADING EADING NNEWSLETTER
Summer 2026
Summer Term 2 Drop Everything and Read
D.E.A.R
“Not with that face, I would not take you nowhere,” said the woman “Here I am trying to get home to cook me a bite to eat and you snatch my pocketbook! Maybe, you ain’t been to your supper either, late as it be Have you?”
“There’s nobody home at my house,” said the boy
“Then we’ll eat,” said the woman, “I believe you ’ re hungry or been hungry to try to snatch my pocketbook ”
“I wanted a pair of blue suede shoes,” said the boy
“Well, you didn’t have to snatch my pocketbook to get some suede shoes,” said Mrs Luella Bates Washington Jones “You could of asked me ”
“M’am?”
The water dripping from his face, the boy looked at her There was a long pause A very long pause After he had dried his face and not knowing what else to do dried it again, the boy turned around, wondering what next The door was open He could make a dash for it down the hall He could run, run, run, run, run!
The woman was sitting on the day-bed After a while she said, “I were young once and I wanted things I could not get ”
There was another long pause The boy’s mouth opened Then he frowned, but not knowing he frowned
The woman said, “Um-hum! You thought I was going to say but, didn’t you? You thought I was going to say, but I didn’t snatch people’s pocketbooks Well, I wasn’t going to say that ” Pause Silence “I have done things, too, which I would not tell you, son neither tell God, if he didn’t already know So you set down while I fix us something to eat You might run that comb through your hair so you will look presentable ”
In another corner of the room behind a screen was a gas plate and an icebox Mrs Jones got up and went behind the screen The woman did not watch the boy to see if he was going to run now, nor did she watch her purse which she left behind her on the day-bed But the boy took care to sit on the far side of the room where he thought she could easily see him out of the corner of her eye, if she wanted to He did not trust the woman not to trust him And he did not want to be mistrusted now
“Do you need somebody to go to the store,” asked the boy, “maybe to get some milk or something?”
“Don’t believe I do,” said the woman, “unless you just want sweet milk yourself I was going to make cocoa out of this canned milk I got here ”
“That will be fine,” said the boy
She heated some lima beans and ham she had in the icebox, made the cocoa, and set the table The woman did not ask the boy anything about where he lived, or his folks, or anything else that would embarrass him Instead, as they ate, she told him about her job in a hotel beauty-shop that stayed open late, what the work was like, and how all kinds of women came in and out, blondes, red-heads, and Spanish Then she cut him a half of her ten-cent cake
“Eat some more, son, ” she said
When they were finished eating she got up and said, “Now, here, take this ten dollars and buy yourself some blue suede shoes And next time, do not make the mistake of latching onto my pocketbook nor nobody else’s because shoes come by devilish like that will burn your feet I got to get my rest now But I wish you would behave yourself, son, from here on in ”
She led him down the hall to the front door and opened it “Good-night! Behave yourself, boy!” she said, looking out into the street
The boy wanted to say something else other than “Thank you, m ’ am ” to Mrs Luella Bates Washington Jones, but he couldn’t do so as he turned at the barren stoop and looked back at the large woman in the door He barely managed to say “Thank you ” before she shut the door And he never saw her again
Reading Fun! RREADING EADING NNEWSLETTER
Summer 2026
1. Character Mash-Up
Pick two of your favourite book characters and imagine a scene where they meet Write 3–5 sentences or draw a quick comic showing what happens when their worlds collide
2. Book Bingo
Complete as many of these reading challenges as you can:
Read a book with a one-word title
Read a book by an author you ’ ve never tried before Read a book set in another country
Recommend a book to a family member
Tick off your squares and see how many you can complete this month!
3. Cover Redesign
Choose a book you love (or one you didn’t enjoy) and redesign the cover You can draw it, make a collage, or design it digitally Include a sentence explaining why you chose this design
4. Quote Hunt
Here’s a quote from a book: “The forest whispered secrets only the brave could hear” Write down:
Which character might have said it? What could happen next?
What does this make you think about?
5. Two Truths and a Lie – Book Edition
Guess the lie! One of these statements about a book is false:
1 The main character never speaks in the first chapter
2 The author based a character on their pet
3 The story is set entirely in one city
4 Write down which one you think is false and why
6. Family Reading Challenge
Spend 15–20 minutes reading with a family member After reading, each of you pick one word to describe the story or a character Send in your word to be part of next month’s “Family Reading Word Cloud”
7. Emoji Book Reviews
Pick a book you ’ ve read recently and describe it using only emojis Share it and see if others can guess the book!
Example:
(Harry Potter)
8. Reading Scavenger Hunt
While reading, try to spot these:
A character with a secret
A plot twist
A metaphor involving nature
A dialogue that made you laugh
Tick them off and share what you found with us!
RREADING EADING
Summer 2026
Escape Into a Book This Summer!
Can you complete each – or any – of these over the Summer Holidays?
Tick off as many as you can and be ready to share your summer reading adventures when we return!
☀ Read a book set during the summer
�� Read a story set in a different country or culture
�� Read a book that makes you laugh
�� Read a book set outdoors (beach, countryside, forest, campsite, park, etc )
�� Recommend a book to a friend or family member
�� Read outside for at least 30 minutes
�� Read a graphic novel, comic, or illustrated book
�� Listen to an audiobook while travelling or relaxing
�� Read a poem about nature, travel, or adventure
�� Read before bed every night for a week
✍ Write a short review of something you ’ ve read
�� Choose a book with a bright, colourful, or eye-catching cover
�� Read a book from a genre you don’t usually choose
�� Finish a book that you've been meaning to read for ages
⭐ Read for at least 20 minutes on ten different days during the holidays
Summer Reading Challenge Bonus Challenge
Take a photo of yourself reading somewhere sunny (in the garden, at the park, near flowers, or at the beach) and share it after the holidays!
Have a wonderful Summer break!