Introduction
Literacy is one of the fundamental building blocks of learning; it concerns the way students access and interact with every kind of written text. High standards of literacy go hand in hand with success, both at school and in all aspects of adult life. Therefore, William Ellis, as part of its aim to deliver the best quality of education to its students, is committed to raising standards of literacy at every level of ability.

Policy
The aim of the policy is to implement a whole school approach to the encouragement, support and monitoring of literacy across the curriculum, with the following objectives:
• raising literacy will be the responsibility of all teaching staff.
• the Learning Development Department and the English Department will take central roles in the assessment and monitoring of the policy.
• the school library will be central to the success of the Literacy Policy.
• there will be baseline testing of all new students and regular monitoring of progress on the development of their proficiency in reading.
• students with individual literacy needs will be supported and mentored.
• all departments will review Programmes of Study in order to deliver text-based learning as effectively as possible.
• teaching staff will reflect on classroom practice with the aim of developing and enhancing teaching approaches.
• departments will reflect on and monitor the teaching styles and approaches to the teaching of texts.
• boys' achievement will be monitored and celebrated throughout the school.
• an ethos of co-operation and independent learning will be fostered throughout the curriculum.
• parents will be encouraged to take an active role in the encouragement of reading.
• the school will promote reading for pleasure as well as for the development of
communication skills.

Policy into Practice
The following practical strategies for raising literacy will be developed and monitored:
• the Head of English will have overall responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the policy into practice.
• each department will have a named person responsible for monitoring the teaching of literacy skills.
• the National Year of Reading will provide a focus for raising the profile of reading in the school.
• the annual school Book Week will provide an opportunity to promote and celebrate reading in the school.
• visiting writers, poets and prominent members of the community will be invited to the school to share their love of reading with students.
• Staff INSET will focus on practical approaches to accessing and exploring texts with students.
• Staff INSET will focus on developing competence in a diverse range of teaching approaches.
• All Year 7 students will have the opportunity to read silently in at least one English lesson per week.
• Reading will be a weekly focus for all tutor group registrations, for example in silent reading time or in 'show and tell' sessions.
• the school library will be open during students' free time for silent reading and study.
• students with special needs will receive intensive literacy training at Key Stage 3 using a variety of approaches, including in class support, individual support and small group support.

Success Maker sessions.
• The baseline testing of Year 7 students will include MIDYIS testing.
• all staff will have access to the academic profiles of students using the SIMS system.
• Success Maker will be used as a specific strategy to improve the literacy skills of students with special needs in Year 7.
• parents will be encouraged to take an active role in their son's reading by devoting time, at home, to reading together.

Governors' Annual Review: Autumn Term