Rokesly Schools believe that reading is far more than a skill – it is a gateway to imagination, knowledge, opportunity and enjoyment.
In line with their vision to nurture “a lifelong thirst for learning,” Rokesly Junior School encouraged pupils to continue reading for pleasure over the summer holidays.
In July, special assemblies introduced children to the Summer Reading Challenge, run by local libraries. To inspire them further, Rokesly staff created a video sharing some of their favourite books, recommending a diverse selection of titles such as Cloud Busting by Malorie Blackman, Varjak Paw by S. F. Said, The Breakfast Club Investigators by Marcus Rashford, and Hunt for the Golden Scarab by M. G. Leonard, who had visited the school earlier in the year. Pupils also received a recommendation from award-winning author Kieran Larwood, who visited the school last week.
As part of the Summer Reading Challenge, children recorded the books they read over the holidays, with the goal of completing six titles. On their return to school, those who took part were awarded certificates celebrating their achievements.
In addition, staff and pupils were invited to take part in an 'extreme reading' challenge, capturing photos of themselves reading in unusual places.
Memorable entries included being buried in the sand at the beach, reading on the Underground, and even reading in a hot-air balloon.
To make reading accessible to all, Rokesly runs a range of school-wide initiatives to further promote a love of reading. These include regular book swaps, where children can exchange books with one another; the opportunity to take home pre-loved books that have been donated for pupils to keep; and 'Book Talk' sessions held in every class, where children and teachers share and discuss their current reads.
English subject lead Chris Graham said: “We want children to see reading as a source of pleasure, not just a classroom task. When pupils discover stories they love, it builds confidence, imagination and independence. We are especially proud that 90% of last year’s cohort left reading at the expected standard, with 59% achieving greater depth.”
- Bola Soneye-Thomas is headteacher at Rokesly Junior School (rokesly-jun.haringey.sch.uk/)
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