Shetland Building Bridges case study
PDF file: Shetland Building Bridges case studyAnderson High School and Bell's Brae Primary School
Anderson High School is a six-year school serving Lerwick and surrounding areas as well as the islands of Fair Isle, Foula, Fetlar and Papa Stour. With a roll of 900, it has four associated primaries, one of which, Bell’s Brae, was a partner in this study.
This project aimed to increase enthusiasm for personal and private reading in P6–S2 through the implementation of a range of strategies. At the heart of the programme is a message – reading is not a ‘chore’ which must be completed without much enthusiasm or interest. Staff were aware that such an attitudinal change would take time.
From the outset, pupils agreed their reading targets and undertook to keep a reflective journal on their reading. A variety of group novels were read and discussed.
Particularly valuable were ‘reading time’ discussions with an adult. As confidence developed, pupils became more responsible for their own learning.
In the eyes of the practitioners this project achieved well beyond its initial aims, with one child ‘complaining’ that they weren’t doing real reading at all ‘because this is too much fun!’ Strong relationships were built between staff, and the library, with a new reading area, has become a renewed focal point. P7 children were clearly more confident readers and will have their reading attainment monitored into S1 and beyond.