What is ECC’s Tutor Reading Programme? 

Twice a week during registration, each Year 7-10 tutor group will be read aloud to by their tutor for between 15-30 minutes. The collection of books in the programme has been carefully chosen. All pupils will have a copy to follow along from.

Why is it important?

This will help to:

• create a sense of belonging through the shared reading experience
• promote ambition for all out students in the hope that our students will be become lifelong inquisitive learners and readers
• increase a sense of responsibility for self and others by developing a growing understanding of the way in which literature allows us to see and understand the world from a variety of perspectives
• expose students to a wide range of vocabulary and grammar
• model fluency and tone when reading
• improve reading stamina
• provide reading time for students in a relaxed, calm environment to start the day.

How will it work?

These texts have been selected, not only to encourage reading for pleasure, but to promote discussion by encountering some of the challenges our protagonists (main characters) face. Our Tutor Reading Programme will prompt students to empathise with characters of all ages from different backgrounds whilst being exposed to a range of genres and writing styles.

At the heart of our Tutor Reading Programme is a simple message: we want everyone to fall in love with reading. At ECC, we understand the impact reading can have on a student’s life and future prospects. Therefore, we see it as our moral imperative to do whatever we can to support students through some of the challenging content so that we are giving them every potential to become thoughtful, considerate and ambitious individuals in and out of our school community.

Some of the texts do include challenging content - such as racism, sexism, cancer, death, grief, adolescence, physical difference, ability, disability, refugee camps and immigration detention centres - and are therefore provided with accompanying materials to support the teaching of topics

like prejudice and stereotypes so that all staff feel confident when discussing the novels with their tutees.

We want every member of our community to appreciate the value of reading

What texts will be read?

Should you wish to explore any of the novels further, here are the novels that will be read by the year groups.

If you have any further questions, please contact our Whole School Literacy Coordinator hayley.williams@exmouthcollege.devon.sch.uk