Welcome to Our School Literacy Program!

Ignite Your Imagination, Fuel Your Future

Welcome to the heart of learning and creativity – our Literacy Program! At Sir Thomas Fremantle School, we believe that literacy is the cornerstone of education, opening doors to new worlds, sparking imagination, and empowering our students to achieve their dreams. Our comprehensive Literacy Program is designed to cultivate a lifelong love for reading, writing, and critical thinking.

Explore, Dream, Discover

In our vibrant classrooms, libraries, and online spaces, students embark on exciting literary journeys. From classic tales to contemporary stories, our diverse curriculum caters to every reader's taste. Whether you're a fan of thrilling adventures, heartwarming narratives, or thought-provoking non-fiction, there's a book waiting for you.

Our Literacy Initiatives:

The Big Read: Experience the excitement of our weekly dedicated reading fluency sessions.  Our enthusiastic tutors bring stories to life with thrilling, age-appropriate texts, sparking lively discussions that will captivate and inspire.

Reading Fluency Accelerator: The Microsoft Teams Reading Progress tool is designed to enhance students' reading skills through a digital platform. Here's a brief overview of how it works:

• Assignment Creation: Teachers create reading assignments within Microsoft Teams, selecting text passages and customising reading tasks according to each student's level and needs.

• Student Interaction: Students access their assignments and record themselves reading the passages aloud. This can be done at their own pace and in a comfortable environment.

• Automatic Analysis: The tool uses artificial intelligence to analyse the recordings, providing detailed feedback on accuracy, fluency, and pronunciation.

• Teacher Insights: Teachers receive comprehensive reports on each student's reading progress, highlighting areas that need improvement and tracking growth over time.

• Personalised Support: Based on the feedback, teachers can offer targeted support and additional resources to help students improve specific reading skills.

Digital Literacy: In the age of information, our program includes digital literacy skills, teaching students to navigate and critically assess online content, ensuring they become responsible digital citizens.

Celebrating Our Vocabulary Instruction: Say it, Spell it, Know it

At Sir Thomas Fremantle, we are proud to implement the Say it, Spell it, Know it approach to vocabulary instruction, a method grounded in the extensive research and hard work of David Didau and the Ormiston Academies Trust. This innovative approach ensures that our students not only learn new words but understand and retain them, enriching their language skills and boosting their academic success.

Say It: We encourage students to pronounce new words clearly and confidently. This auditory practice helps reinforce their memory and aids in proper usage.

Spell It: Spelling is a crucial component of vocabulary acquisition. By focusing on correct spelling, students learn to recognize patterns and strengthen their writing skills.

Know It: Understanding the meaning of words and how to use them in context is vital. Our approach ensures that students can effectively incorporate new vocabulary into their everyday language.

The Power of Etymology

To further support our vocabulary instruction, we celebrate the use of etymology. By introducing students to the roots and origins of words, we provide them with a logical strategy for decoding and spelling unfamiliar terms. This method not only makes learning new words more engaging but also empowers students with the tools to understand and master complex vocabulary.

Root Words: Teaching the root of a word gives students insight into its core meaning. This foundational knowledge helps them infer the meanings of related words.

Origins and History: Exploring the history and origin of words connects students to the rich tapestry of the English language. This historical perspective fosters a deeper appreciation and understanding of language.

A Commitment to Excellence

Our vocabulary instruction is a testament to our commitment to academic excellence and the holistic development of our students. By integrating the Say it, Spell it, Know it approach with the study of etymology, we equip our students with the skills they need to become proficient and confident communicators.

Empowering Reluctant and Struggling Readers with LEXIA™

At Sir Thomas Fremantle, we are committed to supporting all our students, especially those who find reading challenging. Our use of LEXIA ™ plays a crucial role in this mission. LEXIA's ™ personalised learning approach provides reluctant and struggling readers with the targeted support they need to overcome their difficulties. The program's engaging and interactive activities make learning fun and accessible, helping students build their skills and confidence at their own pace. With real-time feedback and progress tracking, LEXIA™ ensures that every student receives the encouragement and guidance they need to become confident, proficient readers. We celebrate the remarkable progress our students make with LEXIA ™, transforming challenges into triumphs and fostering a love for reading. 

Unforgettable Experiences for our students

At Sir Thomas Fremantle we offer our young adults a range of enriching experiences designed to deepen their understanding and appreciation of literature, journalism, and the performing arts. These opportunities not only enhance their academic learning but also provide invaluable real-world insights and inspiration.

Theatre Visits: Bringing Texts to Life

Our theatre visits are a highlight of the year, where students have the chance to see their favourite texts brought to life on stage. Watching professional actors interpret characters, settings, and plots adds a dynamic dimension to their literary studies. These experiences help students grasp the emotional depth and nuances of the stories they read, fostering a deeper connection to the material.

Collaborations with The Guardian News Team

In our exciting collaboration with The Guardian News team, students step into the shoes of journalists and editors. They engage in workshops where they learn the intricacies of news reporting and headline writing. By creating their own front page, students develop critical thinking, writing, and editing skills. This hands-on experience offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of journalism, enhancing their understanding of media and communication.

Interviews with Professional Actors

To further enrich their appreciation of literature and the performing arts, our students have the unique opportunity to interview professional actors. These sessions allow students to delve into the creative processes actors use to bring characters, settings, and plots to life. They gain insights into the actors' preparation, interpretation, and performance techniques, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the artistry of theatre and film.

Parents and Community Involvement

We believe that fostering a love for literacy is a community effort. Parents, grandparents, and local authors are invited to participate in our programs. Whether it's reading to a class, donating books, or sharing your writing expertise, your involvement enriches our students' experiences.

Join Us on this Literacy Adventure!

At Sir Thomas Fremantle, every student is a reader, writer, and thinker. Our Literacy Program is more than just an academic initiative; it’s a journey into the world of words, ideas, and limitless possibilities. Let’s read, write, and dream together as we build a brighter future, one page at a time.

Discover the magic of literacy with us. Welcome to the adventure!

Curriculum Linked texts (with thanks to the extensive curriculum research and design by David Didau and the Ormiston Academies Trust).