Whole School Literacy Strategy

At Mark Rutherford School, we recognise that literacy is the key to unlocking every student's potential—not just in English, but across all subjects and into adult life. Our whole-school literacy strategy is designed to ensure that every child can read, write, speak, and listen with confidence and clarity. We embed literacy into every aspect of the curriculum through a disciplinary approach, helping students to master the language and communication skills specific to each subject. Whether it's analysing a historical source, interpreting a scientific report, or constructing a persuasive argument in geography, literacy is at the heart of learning.

To support this, we run a structured tutor time reading session (Rutherford Reads) where students engage with a diverse range of texts, building comprehension and vocabulary in a calm, focused environment. Vocabulary development is a key priority, with teachers across all departments explicitly teaching Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary to help students access complex ideas and express themselves precisely. For students who need additional support, we offer targeted literacy interventions, including phonics catch-up (Lexia PowerUp), reading fluency programmes (EEF Switch On, Paired Reading) and one-to-one support where needed with our specialists (Librarian, SEND Teacher, Literacy Lead.)

We also celebrate literacy through student-led initiatives such as our Reader Leaders, who help promote a love of reading across the school community. These ambassadors support events like our annual Literary Festival (LitFest), World Book Day, reading challenges, and book swaps, helping to create a vibrant reading culture. Literacy is further reinforced through structured Library lessons in our Space for Learning, where students take part in Young Writers’ competitions and become published themselves!

At Mark Rutherford School, we are committed to ensuring that every student leaves us with the literacy skills they need to succeed—not only in their GCSEs, but in further education, employment, and life beyond school. We welcome parents and carers to be part of this journey, and we provide guidance and resources to help support literacy development at home. Together, we can ensure that every child has the tools to thrive, underpinning our core values of Motivated, Respectful and Successful.