Reading is the cornerstone of everything that students do in education; it develops a broader and more sophisticated vocabulary, develops critical thinking skills, and improves empathy skills. In short, reading is unmatched for its positive impact on the brain, contributing to attainment in all subjects and so giving students more options in their lives in and beyond education. We recognise and value this at Conisborough College, so every morning all students in years 7-10 participate in Read Aloud where the form reads a carefully selected novel for 25 minutes. This activity exposes young people to a range of different rich, engaging and diverse texts which expand their worldview and open doors to different worlds.
Because we know the transformative power of words, at Conisborough College we plan vocabulary instruction across the curriculum and embed the explicit teaching of vocabulary in all lessons. In developing our students’ ability to use words, we equip them with the tools to express themselves clearly and thoughtfully, and to broaden experiences by being more confident in interacting with people from a range of backgrounds.