Reading

Reading at Orion Coopers

At Orion, we believe reading is at the heart of everything we do.

At Orion Coopers, we know that strong reading skills are the foundation for success across every subject. Whether it’s understanding a Science question, following instructions in Technology, understanding a source in History, or exploring a novel in English, reading sits right at the centre of our students’ learning.

From the very start of school, we help children to become confident, fluent readers who enjoy reading and use it to succeed across all subjects.

We carefully choose high-quality books that inspire children, build their understanding of the world and help them to think and communicate clearly.

Our approach to reading is well planned and consistent across all year groups, so that every child makes strong progress.

We want children not only to learn to read well, but to develop a lifelong love of reading, discovering new ideas, people and possibilities along the way.

Our Approach to Reading at Orion Coopers

Reading is at the heart of learning at Orion Coopers. We believe that every teacher is a teacher of reading, regardless of subject, and that developing confident, fluent readers is a shared responsibility across the school.

Our reading strategy is built around three key strands: high-quality reading within the curriculum, a structured tutor reading programme, and a culture that celebrates reading for both learning and pleasure. Specifically, our tutor reading programme provides a calm and purposeful start to the day. During tutor time, pupils read a carefully selected class text together, with tutors modelling fluent, expressive reading aloud. This shared reading experience exposes pupils to ambitious vocabulary and engaging texts, while fostering discussion, curiosity, and a lifelong appreciation of reading.

In addition, all pupils have one English lesson each week in the library, where they enjoy dedicated independent reading time, use Accelerated Reader and receive personalised guidance to support their reading progress.

Reading in the Curriculum

Reading is woven through our curriculum, our teaching approaches and our wider school culture. We aim to ensure that pupils encounter high-quality texts every day, develop the confidence to read with fluency and understanding, and experience the enjoyment that reading can bring. Teachers are trained to develop pupils' reading skills through our Five Rigours of Reading, ensuring that literacy is embedded within every curriculum area and that pupils are equipped to access increasingly complex disciplinary texts.

Our Five Rigours of Reading are:

Control the Game - Teachers direct pupils to read carefully selected sections of text aloud, ensuring all pupils remain engaged and accountable. Reading is carefully orchestrated so that pupils receive regular opportunities to read.
Explicit and Implicit Vocabulary Instruction - Teachers explicitly teach ambitious subject vocabulary while also developing pupils' understanding of unfamiliar language through context and discussion.
Echo Reading - Teachers model fluent reading before pupils repeat sections together, reinforcing pronunciation, expression and confidence through repetition and choral rehearsal.
Stop and Jot - Pupils pause while reading to summarise key ideas, make connections and record their thinking, helping them to synthesise and deepen their understanding.
Everybody Rewrites - Pupils revisit, refine and improve their written responses, encouraging them to draw upon what they have read and strengthening the link between reading and writing.

Through these consistent approaches, pupils develop the fluency, comprehension and disciplinary reading skills needed to succeed across the curriculum.

Reading Culture and Promotion

We are committed to creating a vibrant reading culture where books are visible, valued and celebrated throughout the school. Our library, led by our librarian, Buckley, is a welcoming hub where pupils can discover new books, participate in competitions and reading initiatives, and enjoy a quiet space to read, study or explore their interests. It is both a place of sanctuary and a collaborative learning environment.

Reading is promoted beyond the library too. Our school foyer features a dedicated reading display alongside a community bookcase where pupils can borrow and share books, ensuring that reading is visible in the everyday life of the school.

Throughout the year, pupils enjoy a range of enrichment opportunities including author-inspired activities, reading competitions, library events and our annual celebration of World Book Day, when staff and pupils come together to celebrate books and storytelling.

We also place a strong emphasis on independent reading. We expect all pupils in Years 7 to 9 to carry a reading book in their school bag every day, so they are always ready to read whenever opportunities arise.

Targeted Reading Support

We recognise that pupils develop as readers at different rates and are committed to ensuring that every pupil receives the support that they need to become confident, fluent readers.

Reading ability is monitored using a range of assessment information, including our STAR reading quizzes, enabling us to identify pupils who would benefit from additional support. Following diagnostic assessment by our Literacy Lead, targeted interventions are carefully matched to pupils' individual areas for development.

Interventions are delivered through our library and include evidence-informed programmes such as Lexia and Read Write Inc. Fresh Start, alongside small-group interventions designed to develop fluency, decoding, comprehension, vocabulary and reading confidence. We also run a Sixth Form Reading Buddies programme, providing younger pupils with additional opportunities to read regularly with trained student mentors in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Supporting Reading at Home

Reading at home plays a vital role in developing vocabulary, comprehension, imagination and academic success across all subjects. Families can make a significant difference by encouraging regular reading and helping to establish positive reading habits.

We encourage pupils to read for around 20 to 30 minutes each day, ideally as part of a relaxing evening routine away from screens. Reading does not have to be limited to fiction - newspapers, magazines, biographies, graphic novels and non-fiction books all help to build knowledge, vocabulary and confidence. The most important thing is that pupils read texts they enjoy.

Families are encouraged to discuss books together, ask questions about what their child is reading and make use of our school library as well as local public libraries to explore a wide range of authors and genres. Every opportunity to read contributes to a lifelong love of learning.

Coopers School