Reading

We recognise the importance of developing a reading culture across the school. Reading enables students to acquire the necessary literacy skills to access our entire curriculum. Therefore, all students are expected to have a reading book in school and to read during Core Learning Time at the beginning of the day. Teachers also encourage reading within lessons. We set every student the goal of reading for at least 35 minutes daily, some of which will be completed during the school day. Students in Y7-9 also have one lesson of dedicated reading time each fortnight as part of their English provision.

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The Learning Resources Centre (The LRC)

Our LRC is located at the front of the school and is a bright, welcoming environment for both students and staff. There are approximately 12,000 books including fiction, non fiction, graphic novels and manga and includes a large IT suite where students can study, complete homework and read.

The LRC at Hornsey aims to:

• Provide a wide range of resources to support the needs of the curriculum and interests of the students

• Raise literacy standards by encouraging a love of reading for pleasure across all formats and types

• provide an educational environment that is clean, safe and to ensure that all students and staff have full access to the area during opening times

• Ensure students are equipped with resources for a rapidly changing information environment

• Continually review and monitor the area to continue to support students and staff in their academic needs

Opening Hours: 08:00 - 17:00

See our website: Hornsey School for Girls Learning Resource Centre

INDEPENDENT READING 

Students are encouraged and challenged to not only read but read a variety of texts. Every term, students have opportunities to take part in competitions, join reading clubs and enjoy a number of events hosted by the LRC all year round. 

Studies have shown that just 10 minutes of reading per day can have the following benefits:

• improved mental health and a reduction in levels of stress  
• improved concentration 
• increase in the number of words students are exposed to (students who read for around 15 minutes per day will encounter an average of 5.7 million words over a year, compared to students who read for less than this, who will encounter 1.7 million words on average)
• improved reading test performance

 

WAYS TO SUPPORT READING AT HOME

There is overwhelming evidence of the impact of reading, demonstrating how crucial it is to ensure our students can read proficiently by the time they leave school. In order to give our young people the best possible opportunities, it is vitally important that we have home support in this too.

Please find below a number of strategies you can use at home to develop your child’s reading skills:

• Find the time to read with and to your child – this only needs to be 10 minutes per day. This is absolutely the most important suggestion on this list. It will help you to know first-hand your child’s reading ability and attitude to reading. It will tell them you value reading. It will give you both time to spend together (so precious in these busy lives we have)! It will give your child an interested ear. It gives you an opportunity to praise and advise. It will also give you time to read!
• Buy them a book that you think is ‘too grown up for them’ – children often like to feel they are being trusted with something that is more grown up than they are! Choose carefully though!!
• Talk to them about your own feelings about reading. Do you enjoy it? What are you currently reading? Do you wish you were better at reading? Why? How is reading important for your job? Etc.
• Put the subtitles on when you watch TV. Studies have shown that this simple act can double your chances of becoming a good reader.
• Invest in books – charity shops are treasure troves for cheap books, often selling at only 50p per book!
• Join the local library and take short trips there together.
• Subscribe to online book platforms like Audible, Borrow Box, Kindle etc – use technology to help your child feel reading is accessible for them. Audiobooks are a great way to get kids ‘reading’ without them needing a physical book in their hand (although this helps!)