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In line with the Northern Ireland Curriculum, Literacy in Key Stage 3 is based on a themed approach. At the centre of each theme is a class novel. This makes the work more enjoyable and accessible for pupils.

Year 8 themes                          Year 9 themes                                                  Year 10 themes
Term 1 - Animals                      Term 1 - Witches, magic and fear                     Term 1 - School
Term 2 - Giants                         Term 2 - Neighbourhood                                 Term 2 - Detectives
Term 3 - Pirates                        Term 3 - Shipwrecked                                     Term 3 - Transport

After initial assessment each child is placed on a suitable level of one of the many reading schemes used in KS 3. These are The Harberton Reading Scheme, Wellington Square, Literacy Links, Fast Lane, Fiction with stacks of facts, story steps, Impact, Wolf Hill, Explorers and Longman. Each child practises word attack strategies and comprehension skills.

Every class is timetabled for the school library which has a wide range of fact and fiction books along with 'First news' newspapers. Class libraries are supplemented with topic based project packs.

This year we have introduced in each class 'Linguistic Phonics' phonics for reading, writing and spelling. This simply means in Stage one breaking down words into sounds (one letter one sound) and progressing through the stages to Stage six where they learn to build multi-syllable words. So far pupils are responding well to this new approach and enjoying it!!

Pupils complete two Literacy homeworks per week.

Children complete work on English For Life topics to become confident when dealing with everyday English. Year 8 topic is 'Pets', year 9 is 'The Café' and year 10 is 'Signs'.

Each year pupils take part in many different Literacy competitions winning awards for poetry and short stories. See Latest News page for our latest winners!

World Book Day is celebrated each year in February/ March with many fun activities and competitions taking place to further encourage reading for enjoyment.

Literacy classes in Beechlawn in Key Stage 3 are exciting and diverse and there is something for every child's ability.