Key Stage 3

Bedrock Learning – The Highcrest Literacy Programme

To support reading development across the curriculum, we use Bedrock Learning, an online literacy platform designed to strengthen students’ vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension. Students complete short, focused sessions each week that explicitly teach high-utility academic language, with tasks adapting to individual performance to provide appropriate challenge and support. All students complete a reading age assessment in the first half term and a follow-up assessment at the end of the year, allowing us to track progress over time. Bedrock provides teachers with clear, useful information about students’ strengths and gaps, which is used to tailor support and improve access to learning across all subjects.   

Key Stage 3 Interventions

On entering, their journey continues across the school. D.E.A.R. (drop everything and read) during form times allows every student the opportunity for 20 minutes of uninterrupted reading. All Years 7, 8 and 9 have fortnightly library lessons in our Learning Resources Centre, where they get to explore the world of literature, gain and maintain key research and reading skills, and for a few each term, specialist tutoring in reading and writing. 

Highcrest Reading Canon

Here, they will have the opportunity to explore the varied Highcrest Reading Canon; 3 age specific reading lists created specifically for our students’ multicultural and inclusive needs and experiences. We also have an array of texts to choose from on our E-Platform, so everyone has the opportunity to read.

Core Writing Skills

We believe that literacy and the skills needed to communicate in the 21^st century are shared responsibilities, which is why we have created a Key Stage 3 spelling list here that incorporates specialist language and vocabulary from all subjects and departments, apart from the commonly misspelt words here.

Key Stage 4

Intervention

As they reach the turning point from KS3 to KS4, we

hold a weekly year 9 reading intervention to assist in fluency, encouraging confidence and oracy ready for the speaking and listening GCSE exams in year 10.

Reaching the core GCSE and A-Level years, students are given the opportunity to become tutors and mentors, sustaining the practice that literacy is the shared obligation, encouraging accountability among all members of Highcrest. Each mentor will be given specific training to tutor those younger or less able than themselves across every subject, with disciplinary literacy practice as a core routine.

Literacy Events

Through the years, the opportunities for literacy growth and experience will be accessed and encouraged through ample whole school events such as World Book Day, World Poetry Day, Culture Day and many more.

World Book Day at Highcrest – Celebrating Reading Together

World Book Day at Highcrest is a whole-school celebration of reading, creativity, and shared stories. The day is designed to show students that books are not just for lessons, but for enjoyment, curiosity, and connection. Highlights include our Highcrest Literature Review, with professionally designed A1 posters around the school showcasing staff members’ favourite books, and a student Short Story Competition, where winning entries are celebrated with prizes, displayed in the library, and featured in the Highcrest Audible series.

The library becomes a lively hub with quizzes, puzzles, scavenger hunts, creative challenges, and a book sale, while house points are awarded to students ‘caught reading’ during break and lunchtimes. Author visits, writing workshops led by professional writers, staff fancy dress, and book-themed classroom door displays transform the school environment into a shared literary experience. Together, these activities reflect Highcrest’s commitment to making reading inclusive, joyful, and part of everyday life.