Literacy
At Harris Garrard Academy we understand how important good literacy is for your child's development and life choices.
Developing skills in literacy is about learning to use language to express, explore and communicate our thoughts, ideas and feelings with others. We do this through speaking, listening, reading and writing, and getting better at literacy means making progress in each of these areas.
We owe it to our students to give them the very best literacy skills in order to improve their chances in life, and to enable them to succeed in whatever path they choose. We adopt a cross-curricular focus to promoting good literacy amongst our pupils and staff. We believe that promoting literacy is a whole academy responsibility and not just that of the English department. We also invite you to join us in developing your child's literacy at home.
HGA Literary Canon
Harris Garrard Academy has its own 'Literary Canon' to promote a love of reading canonical texts. There are 100 incredible books on the Literary Canon list: 50 for Key Stages 4 and 5, and 50 for Key Stage 3.
Download the Key Stage 3 Literary Canon
Download the Key Stage 4-5 Literary Canon
Every student has a reading journal to start working their way through the canon and reading the books, and we give out prizes in awards assembly for those that have read the most books on the canon. Teachers are also read books on the canon to discuss with students and review them for a 'Canon book of the week'.
Drop Everything and Read
At the start of the school day, every student and member of staff stops what they are doing and read for 20 minutes. It's called Drop Everything and Read time.
“For a few minutes after tutor time the whole Academy, staff as well as students, will drop everything and read to encourage reading for pleasure,” said Executive Principal Chris Everitt.
Reading and literacy skills are the key to learning and pleasure. They open doors and allow our students to access all aspects of the curriculum, whilst improving oracy, communication and problem-solving skills.
Download our literacy policy from our Teaching and Learning page.
