Libraries & Literacy

‘Leaders aim to nurture the talents of pupils through their scholar programmes in mathematics, music, art and sport.’
‘’Leaders have designed a curriculum that is broad and ambitious for all pupils. For example, nearly all pupils study two languages from the start of Year 7. -
Ofsted 2023

At Kingsdale Foundation School, we believe that strong literacy is fundamental to students’ success across the curriculum and beyond school. Reading, writing, vocabulary and spoken language are therefore a whole-school priority, with all subject areas playing an important role in developing confident, articulate and independent learners.

Our Libraries

Our Lower School Library, for Key Stage 3, and Upper School Library, for Key Stages 4 and 5, are central to the academic and cultural life of the school. They provide welcoming spaces in which students can read for pleasure, undertake independent study, complete homework and access a wide range of curriculum and reference materials.

Students are introduced to the library facilities when they join Kingsdale and are encouraged to make regular use of them throughout their time at the school.

Our library provision includes a broad range of fiction, non-fiction and reference materials, alongside digital resources, newspapers and multilingual texts. We are committed to ensuring that reading is accessible to all students, including those with SEND and students who require adapted or carefully selected reading materials.

The libraries also support subject-specific learning and independent study, enabling students to extend their knowledge beyond the classroom and develop the research and information literacy skills they will need for further study and adult life.

Developing a Culture of Reading

Reading for pleasure has a high profile at Kingsdale. We want students not only to become proficient readers but also to discover books, writers and subjects that interest, challenge and inspire them.

Kingsdale has a long history of promoting reading across the school. Our involvement as a Reading Connects school helped to establish the principle that developing a reading culture is a whole-school responsibility, with the libraries at the heart of this work.

The school has also participated in the Southwark Book Award, connecting our students with other primary and secondary schools and with library services across Southwark.

This commitment continues through our celebration of the National Year of Reading, providing an additional opportunity to place reading at the centre of school life. Throughout the year, we will continue to celebrate books and reading through activities, recommendations, competitions, assemblies and special events, encouraging students and families to make reading part of everyday life.

Our libraries regularly support author visits, workshops and literary events, giving students opportunities to encounter established and emerging writers and to engage with literature beyond their normal classroom experience. Details of forthcoming events and reading initiatives are shared through our website and Parental News.

Literacy Across the Curriculum

At Kingsdale, literacy is not confined to English lessons. All teachers have a responsibility for supporting students to read, write, speak and use subject-specific vocabulary successfully within their disciplines.

Our whole-school approach places particular emphasis on:

• developing ambitious vocabulary and subject-specific language;
• supporting students to read increasingly challenging texts with confidence;
• explicitly teaching the reading and writing skills required in different curriculum areas;
• developing students’ speaking, listening and oracy;
• promoting accurate, purposeful and effective written communication;
• encouraging reading for pleasure and wider reading across all subjects; and
• identifying and supporting students who require additional help with literacy.

Bedrock Literacy: Years 7 and 8

Students in Years 7 and 8 use Bedrock Literacy as part of our structured approach to developing vocabulary, reading comprehension and wider literacy skills.

Bedrock provides students with regular opportunities to encounter ambitious vocabulary and challenging texts while developing their understanding of language in context. Students’ engagement and progress are monitored so that we can identify where additional support or challenge may be required.

This work complements the literacy teaching taking place across students’ curriculum subjects and supports the development of increasingly confident and independent readers.

Year 9 Literacy

All students in Year 9 have a dedicated literacy lesson once each week.

These lessons build on the foundations established during Years 7 and 8 and help students develop the more sophisticated reading, vocabulary, writing and communication skills they will need as they move towards Key Stage 4.

Year 9 literacy provides an important bridge between our Key Stage 3 literacy provision and the increasingly demanding reading and writing students encounter across their GCSE subjects.

Identifying and Supporting Reading Needs

We use reading-age and other relevant assessment information alongside teacher knowledge to identify students who may require additional literacy support.

Where a need is identified, students may receive targeted support designed to address their particular barriers to reading and literacy. Progress is monitored so that provision can be reviewed and adapted appropriately.

Our aim is to ensure that difficulties with literacy do not prevent any student from accessing the wider curriculum or participating fully in school life.

Reading Beyond the Classroom

Students are encouraged to read widely and regularly, both in school and at home. Reading is promoted through form time, the school libraries, curriculum reading, reading recommendations, competitions and whole-school events.

We also celebrate national events such as World Book Day and National Poetry Day, alongside our wider National Year of Reading programme.

Parents and carers have an important role to play in developing positive reading habits. Our Literacy Hub for Parents and Carers provides practical advice on supporting reading, writing, vocabulary, speaking and listening at home, together with recommended reading and useful strategies.

Library Access

Both libraries are available to students during the school day, including at lunchtime, for reading, homework and independent study.

The Upper School Library and Lower School library  is also open after school each weekday until 5.30pm, providing students with additional access to a quiet and well-resourced environment for reading, homework and independent study.