READING NEWSLETTER
Issue No. 21 Summer 2026
Welcome to the Summer edition of our Reading Newsletter. As we reach the end of another successful academic year, we take this opportunity to celebrate the many reading achievements and opportunities that have shaped the second half of the Easter term. This edition is particularly special as it marks the 21st edition of our Reading Newsletter, celebrating three and a half years of sharing and promoting the wonderful reading culture at St Cuthbert's with our families. Inside, you'll find highlights from across the school, celebrations of pupils' achievements on Sparx Reader, recommended summer reads, and contributions from both staff and pupils. Thank you for your continued support in helping us foster a community where reading is valued, enjoyed and celebrated. We wish you all a relaxing summer and hope you find plenty of time to enjoy a good book.
Setting the Reading World Ablaze! This year has seen an extraordinary commitment to reading across Key Stage 3, with pupils embracing Sparx Reader and developing positive reading habits that will benefit them for years to come. While there have been countless individual successes, Year 7 deserve special recognition for the exceptional enthusiasm they have shown, consistently leading the way and setting a fantastic example across the school. Leading the entire school is Umar Mohamed Fouzer (Year 7), who has achieved an incredible 200,000 Sparx Reader Points (SRP). This equates to over 333 hours of reading, which amounts to almost two full weeks spent completely immersed in books. Umar's dedication, consistency and love of reading has been truly outstanding. Congratulations also go to Daniel Mathias (Year 8) and Shenan Liyanage Don (Year 9), who have each reached an impressive 35,000 SRP, the equivalent of more than 58 hours of reading. These achievements represent far more than impressive statistics. Every page read has helped to strengthen vocabulary, improve comprehension, and broaden knowledge. We are incredibly proud of all three pupils, and especially our remarkable Year 7 cohort, whose enthusiasm has helped make this one of our most successful years for reading yet.
Reading milestones Our pupils have enjoyed another fantastic year of reading, with 5,321 books borrowed from the school library, including e-books and audiobooks. Through Sparx Reader, pupils have completed an incredible 8,994 hours of reading, reading 4,552 books and a staggering 80,319,216 words! These achievements showcase our pupils’ commitment to reading and the growing culture of literacy across our school.