Reading Matters at Honley High School!

My colleague Andrea Smart sent me some more information about the work Reading Matters is pioneering in Yorkshire...

In summer 2009, Reading Matters trained 16 Year 11 students to become the first volunteer ‘Reading Leaders’ at Honley High School in Kirklees...
The aim of the programme was to improve reading skills and self confidence in Year 7 students who needed extra help with their literacy to access the full curriculum at the appropriate level. Each Reading Leader buddied up with a younger mentee to provide regular 1-to-1 support with reading. The buddy relationships between Year 11 and Year 7 pupils also helps support the sometimes difficult transition for the Year 7 pupil between primary and secondary schools.

The project was a great success and generated a high level of interest from Year 10 students who wanted to become Reading Leaders the following year. The next group of Reading Leaders have completed their training, for which they can now receive accreditation, and have started their reading sessions with new Year 7 mentees.

If you can't read you can't access the curriculum and this wonderful project is yet another way in which Reading Matters is working with schools across Yorkshire to change the life chances for some of our most special young people.
Chris