Reading isn’t important just because it helps you get good grades or a job. It important because it gives you the room to exist beyond the reality you’re given. Reading makes the world better. It is how humans merge. How minds connect. Dreams. Empathy. Understanding. Escape. Reading is love in action.

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Year 7 recommended reading list

The Infinate by Patience Agbabi

Leaplings, children born on the 29th of February, are very rare. Rarer still are Leaplings with The Gift - the ability to leap through time. Elle Bíbi-Imbelé Ifíè has The Gift, but she has never used it. Until now. On her twelfth birthday, Elle and her best friend Big Ben travel to the Time Squad Centre in 2048. Elle has received a mysterious warning from the future. Other Leaplings are disappearing in time - and not everyone at the centre can be trusted.

"I love how you never know whether people are good or bad."

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken

Joan Aiken's The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, is set in an alternate 19th Centurt England during the reign of King James III. It tells of the adventures of cousins Bonnie and Sylvia and their friend Simon as they seek to thwart the evil schemes of their new teacher, Miss Slightcarp

"A tale of double eyed villany, with right triumphant in the end."

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

One of the original coming of age novels written by Louisa M Alcott in 1868/69.

Little Women follows the lives, loves and tribulations of four sisters growing up during the American Civil War and is one of the best loved books of all time

"I loved this book even though it made me cry!"
 

Skellig by David Almond

When a move to a new house coincides with his baby sister's illness, Michael's world seems lonely and uncertain. One afternoon he stumbles into the garage and finds a strange creature, part owl, part angel, a being who needs Michael's and his new friend Mina's help to get back to full Health and in turn Michael learns hoiw to deal with a new school and problems at home.

"I think this is a powerful book because you feel like you are right there"

Carrie's War by Nina Bawden

It is wartime and Carrie and her little brother Nick have been evacuated from their London home to the Welsh hills. In an unfamiliar place, among strangers, the children feel alone. But when Carrie and Nick visit Albert, another evacuee, they are welcomed into Hepzibah Green's home. They settle into their new surroundings but their loyalties are tested. Will they be persuaded to betray their new friends?

“Nick was frightened of ogres and spiders and crabs and cold water and the dentist and dark nights, but he wasn’t afraid of Mr Evans, even after that first dreadful night, because Mr Evans has false teeth that click when he talks.”

Pig Heart Boy by Malorie Blackman

You are thirteen. All you want is a normal life. But most normal kids don't need heart transplants. So there is this doctor who says that there is a chance for you, but he also says it's experimental, controversial and risky and it has never been done before.

Shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, this is a powerful, thought-provoking story from the award-winning Malorie Blackman.

"A bizarre yet strangely realistic book"

Young Samurai by Chris Bradford

August 1611. Jack Fletcher is shipwrecked off the coast of Japan, his beloved father and the crew lie slaughtered by ninja pirates. Rescued by the legendary sword master Masamoto Takeshi, Jack's only hope is to become a samurai warrior and so his training begins. But life at the samurai school is a constant fight for survival, even with his friend Akiko by his side, Jack is singled out by bullies and treated as an outcast. With courage in his heart and his sword held high, can Jack prove himself and face his deadliest rival yet?

"An action packed martial arts adventure"

Flyaway by Lucy Christopher

While visiting her father in hospital, 13 year old Isla meets Harry, the first boy to understand her and her love of the outdoors. But Harry is ill and as his health fails, Isla is determined to help him. Together they watch a lone swan struggling to fly on the lake outside Harry's window. Isla believes that if she can help the swan, she can help Harry. And in doing so, she embarks upon a magical journey of her own.

"This book will harness wings to your imagination and fly you through a wonderous tale"

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

11.32 a.m. Ted and his sister Kat watch their cousin Salim get on board the London Eye. 12.02 p.m. The pod lands and the doors open and everyone exits except Salim. Has he spontaneously combusted? (Ted's theory.) Has he been kidnapped? (Aunt Gloria's theory.) Is he even still alive? (the family's unspoken fear). Ted does not see the world like most people he knows that with his unique operating system of a brain he can uncover the truth about Salim's disappearance.

"an un-put-downable spine tingling thriller"

The Ingo Chronicles by Helen Dunmore

Once there was a man who fell in love with a mermaid, he swam down into the sea to be with her and was never seen again…Sapphire’s father told her that story when she was little but when he is lost at sea she cannot help but think of that old myth. 

A spellbinding magical adventure of Sapphire and her brother Conor and their discovery of a powerful and exciting world under the sea named Ingo.

"a totally believeable parallel world, I wish I could go to"

Small Change for Stuart by Lissa Evans

Stuart Horten, ten years old and small for his age, is about to have the strangest adventure of his life. After moving to the boring town of Beeton, he finds himself swept up in an incredible quest to find his great-uncle's lost legacy: a magician's workshop stuffed with trickery and magic. There are clues to follow and puzzles to solve, but what starts as fun ends up as danger as Stuart begins to realise that he cannot finish the task on his own.

"a fast moving blend of comedy and magic"

Flour Babies by Anne Fine

When the annual school Science Fair comes round, Mr Cartwright's class do not get to work on the Soap Factory, the Maggot Farm or the Exploding Custard Tins. To their disgust they get the Flour Babies, sweet little six-pound bags of flour that must be cared for at all times.

“Let chaos reign!!”

 

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

Winter has come early to Venice. Two orphaned children are on the run, hiding among the crumbling canals and misty alleyways of the city. Befriended by a gang of street children and their mysterious leader, the Thief Lord, they shelter in an old, disused cinema. On their trail is a bungling detective, but a greater threat to the boys' new-found freedom is something from a forgotten past. . . .

"I now want to see if Venice really is like this"

Coraline by Neil Gaiman 

There is something strange about Coraline's new home. It is not the mist, or the cat that always seems to be watching her, nor the signs of danger that Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, her new neighbours, read in the tea leaves. It's the other house, the one behind the old door in the drawing room. Another mother and father with black button eyes and papery skin are waiting for Coraline to join them there. And they want her to stay with them. For ever. She knows that if she ventures through that door, she may never come back.

The Wheel of Suyra by Jamila Gavin

India, August 1947: Fleeing from their burnt-out village as civil war rages in the Punjab, Marvinder and Jaspal are separated from their mother, Jhoti. Marvinder has already saved her brother's life once, but now they both face a daily fight for survival. Together they escape across India and nearly halfway around the world to England, to find a father they hardly know in a new, hostile culture and find themselves in a completely different fight for survival

"The most important book I have ever read"

Invisible City by M.G. Harris

Josh's dad died in Mexico. He was supposed to be excavating ancient Mayan ruins. So why was he flying an airplane, hundreds of miles from the site and did the UFOs sighted nearby have anything to do with his accident? Josh begins to uncover the truth. His father was not on just another archaeological dig. He was searching for a lost Mayan codex thought to contain a prophecy about the end of the world and somewhere in the world, Josh's research triggers an alarm.

"Amazing book - a must for all adventure fans"

City of Masks by Mary Hoffman

Set in Talia, a parallel world like 16th Century Italy, the narrative follows Lucien, who in this world is ill with cancer. Given a marbled notebook to help him communicate when his throat hurts too much to speak, this notebook is the means that transports Lucien to this magical, dangerous new world, one filled with intrigue, where life can be snuffed out with a flash of a blade.

"sad and exciting at the same time"

I am David by Anne Holm

This is the remarkable story of David’s journey through Europe after escaping from the Concentration Camp from where he has spent his entire life. His introduction to the world, the sea, mountains and flowers, the colours of Italy, the taste of fruit, people laughing and smiling, all are new to David.  David learns that his polite manner, his haunted eyes and his thin features are strange to other people. He must learn to fend for himself in this strange new world.

"makes you realise how thankful we should be for the lives we lead"

The Falcon's Malteser by Anthony Horowitz

When a dwarf comes in and leaves a package, Tim Diamond, the world's worst private detective, is faced with his toughest case yet. The office is ransacked and the package is found to contain simply a box of Maltesers. Who was the dwarf and why was he murdered shortly after his visit?
“Wonderful, full of allusions to and parodies of detective films and stories.”

 

The Iron Man by Ted Hughes

A classic science fiction novella by British Poet Laureate Ted Hughes. Mankind must put a stop to the dreadful destruction caused by the Iron Man. A trap is set for him, but he cannot be kept down, he then befriends a small boy and when a terrible monster from outer space threatens to lay waste to the planet, it is the Iron Man who finds a way to save the world.

"a good mix of fantasy and real life adventure"

Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson

It is 1910 and Maia, tragically orphaned at 13, has been sent from England to start a new life with distant relatives in Manaus, hundreds of miles up the Amazon. She is accompanied by an eccentric and mysterious governess who has secret reasons of her own for making the journey. Both soon discover an exotic world bursting with new experiences in this highly colourful, joyous and award-winning adventure.

"Eva Ibbotson is a fantastic writer"

The Thornthwaite Inheritance by Gareth P Jones

Orphaned twins Ovid and Lorelli have been trying to kill each other, for so long that neither twin can remember which act of attempted murder came first.  A delightfully twisted and humorous gothic tale for fans of mayhem, mishap and misadventure. Ideal for both boys and girls with a flare for the mischievous and an appreciation of deadly whodunits.

“It was full of laughs and nasty tricks”

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Milo’s extraordinary voyage takes him into such places as the Land of Expectation, the Doldrums, the Mountains of Ignorance and the Castle in the Air. He meets the weirdest and most unexpected characters, such as Tock, the watchdog, the Gelatinous Giant and the Threadbare Excuse, who mumbles the same thing over and over again, and, once home, can hardly wait to try out the Tollbooth again. But will it still be there when he gets back from school?

"If you have ever been bored, read this book!"

Emil and the Detective by Erich Kastner

If Mrs Tischbein had known the amazing adventures her son Emil would have in Berlin, she'd never have let him go.

Unfortunately, when his seven pounds goes missing on the train, Emil is determined to get it back - and when he teams up with the detectives he meets in Berlin, it's just the start of a marvellous money-retrieving adventure . . .

"The perfect introduction to the world of fictional crime detection"

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr

This is a semi autobiographical story of a young Jewish girl called Anna, who is too busy with her schoolwork and tobogganing to listen to the talk of Hitler. But one day, Anna and her brother Max are rushed out of Germany in alarming secrecy, away from everything they know, because their father is wanted by the Nazis. This is the start of a huge adventure, sometimes frightening, very often funny and always exciting.

"A compassionate introduction to the whole subject of World War II"

Crusade by Elizabeth Laird

The story of two young boys from opposing worlds at the siege of Acre during the Crusades. Muslim Salim is working for a Jewish doctor and Adam is English. We read about their families and values, including how they meet and ultimately help each other.

“one of the first books that made me question right and wrong.”

 

The Haven by Simon Lelic

Our City. Our Secret. Our Rules

Underneath the city there’s a secret organization, far from adult eyes, where kids are in control. But there is also a battle to stop the destruction of the city above and time is running dangerously short.

“What a cool idea, modern street kids doing it themselves”
 

The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis

Hurled back in time to the birth of a new world, two young friends get caught in the epic struggle between Aslan and his nemesis the White Witch.

Journeys to the ends of the world, fantastic creatures, betrayals, heroic deeds, and friendships won and lost all come together in an unforgettable world of magic. So let the adventures begin.

“Pure enchantment.”

Back Home by Michelle Magorian

Rusty comes back from America where she has been staying with relatives for five years as an evacuee during World War II. Both her Mum and her younger brother are like strangers and is immediately sent to a strict English Boarding School where she finds it difficult to make friends and is extremely lonely and unhappy.

“a sad story. but it just tells you that you can do anything if you are determined and put your mind to it.”

Beauty by Robin Mckinley

When the family business collapses, Beauty and her two sisters are forced to leave the city and begin a new life in the countryside. However, when their father accepts hospitality from the elusive and magical Beast, he is forced to make promise to send one daughter to the Beast's castle, with no guarantee that she will be seen again. Beauty accepts the challenge, and there begins an extraordinary story of magic and love that overcomes all boundaries. 

“Beauty is, very simply, a well-written retelling of Beauty and the Beast.”

Running Wild by Michael Morpurgo

For Will and his mother, going to Indonesia is not just a holiday. It is a chance to put things behind them, things like the death of Will's father. It seems to be just what they both needed. But when Will is riding Oona the elephant on the beach, a tsunami comes crashing in, and Oona begins to run and when the tsunami has gone, Oona just keeps running. With nothing to sustain him but a bottle of water, Will must learn to survive deep in the jungle. Luckily, though, he's not completely alone…He's got Oona.

"a lovely story, with a mix of emotions to stir the spirit”

Journey to Jo'Burg by Beverley Naidoo

Frightened that their baby sister Dineo will die from starvation, not an incurable disease, Naledi and her brother Tiro run away from their grandmother to Johannesburg, to find their mother who works there as a maid. Their journey illustrates the grim realities of apartheid; the pass laws, racism, the breakdown of family life.

“This book is a cannot put down book”


The Borrowers by Mary Norton

The Borrowers live in the secret places of quiet old houses. They own nothing, borrow everything and think that human beings were invented just to do the dirty work. Arrietty's father, Pod, was an expert Borrower he could scale curtains using a hatpin and bring back a doll's teacup without breaking it. Girls were not supposed to go borrowing, but as Arrietty was an only child her father broke the rule and then something happened which changed their lives. She made friends with the human boy living in the house.

“I loved this book I invented a game based on its characters!”

Wonder by R J Palacio

Auggie wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things, eats ice cream, plays his Xbox. He feels ordinary inside. But ordinary kids do not make other ordinary kids run away screaming.

Born with a terrible facial abnormality and home-schooled his whole life, he is now going to attend a real school and he is dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted. Can he convince his new classmates that he is just like them, underneath it all?

“A funny, frank, astonishing, moving book to read in one sitting."

Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver

This is the first book in the series Chronicles of Ancient Darkness and takes place 6000 years ago during the New Stone Age. It tells the story of twelve-year-old boy named Torak of the Wolf Clan who embarks on a terrifying quest in a world of wolves, tree spirits and Hidden People, a world in which trusting a friend means risking your life.

“I love fantasy books, but Wolf Brother had a mix of reality in it as well”
 

Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce

When Tom is sent to stay at his aunt and uncle's house for the summer, he resigns himself to endless weeks of boredom. As he lies awake in his bed he hears the grandfather clock downstairs strike . . .eleven . . . twelve . . . thirteen . . . Thirteen!  Tom races down the stairs and is transported back to the Victorian Age and goes into their garden, which does not exist. He meets lots of other children but only one can see him, Hatty.

"Just about as good as a story book gets"

The Carpet People by Terry Pratchett

In the beginning, there was nothing but endless flatness. Then came the Carpet.... That is the old story everyone knows and loves (even if they don't really believe it). But now the Carpet is home to many different tribes and peoples and there's a new story in the making. This story is about a tribe called Munrugs, who live in carpet world and are trying to find a new home after their village was destroyed by a mysterious natural force called Fray.

"this book has a delicious range of unforgettable characters"

The Boy at the back of the Class by Onjali Q Rauf

There used to be an empty chair at the back of my class, but now a new boy called Ahmet is sitting there. He is a refugee who has run away from a war. A real one. With bombs and fires and bullies that hurt people. And the more his classmates find out about him, the more they want to help him.

"The more you read this book, the more you love this book. It is happy and sad."
 

Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds

When the bell rings and school is finished for the day, the walkers are finally set free. For ten blocks they have no-one telling them what to do; they can talk about bogies, skateboard, plan dramatic escapes, make jokes, face bullies and hear about the school bus that fell from the sky.  In ten stories (one per block), find out what really happens on the walk home from school, when there are no parents or teachers to supervise (or stop the fun!).  

"A great book for people who like short stories with a difference."

Scribbleboy by Phillip Ridley

Bailey arrives in a new neighbourhood with his extraordinary family.  He has no friends but receives a mysterious invitation from Ziggy Fuzz to join the Scribbleboy Fan Club but who is the mythical artist?  Surprises are in store for Bailey.

“It is a wonderful adventure in full colour and the descriptions of the scribbles are magical.”
 

Abomination by Robert Swindells

Martha is twelve and very different from other kids, because of her parents. Strict members of a religious group, the Brethren. Their rules dominate Martha's life and one rule is the most important of all, she must never ever invite anyone home.  If she does, their shameful secret could be revealed.

“nightmarish, yet somehow disturbingly and inexplicably comfortable!”

Blitzcat by Robert Westall

Lord Gort is a female black cat, growing up in England during World War Two. She is quite happy lazing in and around the house of her owner, until the young man disappears to fulfil his duties of war. Reluctantly, she leaves the suddenly deserted home and begins her search for her companion.

“Robert Westall is an excellent story teller”

 

The Happy Prince and Other Stories by Oscar Wilde

A haunting, magical collection of fairy tales by Oscar Wilde including The Happy Prince, who was not so happy after all, a selfish giant who learned to love little children and a star child who did not love his parents as he should. Each of these stories shines with poetry and magic which will be enjoyed by children of every age.

"Magical Stories"


Fox Girl and the White Gazelle by Victoria Williamson

Reema runs to remember the life she left behind in Syria. Caylin runs to find what she's lost. Under the grey Glasgow skies, twelve-year-old refugee Reema is struggling to find her place in a new country, with a new language and without her brother. But she isn't the only one feeling lost. Her Glasgwegian neighbour Caylin is lonely and lashing out. When they form a wary friendship they are more alike than they could have imagined.

"A beautiful, lyrical story of displacement and belonging."

There are so many exciting opportunities in Year 7. It is a real chance for students to explore new subjects and get stuck into all manner of extracurricular activities, such as sports clubs, enrichment or joining the school council, not to mention making new friends. So even before they start, it’s worth talking to them about throwing themselves into school life and making the most of the opportunities available to them.

Once they’ve joined us, a key way to support your Year 7 student is to encourage them to take responsibility for their own school life. It will be helpful if you initially assist them with packing school bags each evening and getting into good routines, but encourage your child to take ownership when they are ready.

It’s a good idea to have a copy of their timetable in a central place, so you can check what needs to be brought to school each day. Try and work out a weekly routine, look at their homework timetable together and agree when independent study will be completed. Ensure that your child has a quiet place to complete their homework away from distractions such as phones or tablets.

Moving around for lessons is something new for most Year 7 children and as a result uniform and equipment can easily get mislaid; our lost property pile grows and grows as the year progresses. So please ensure that all clothing and equipment is clearly named and encourage your child to keep track of their belongings.

Do also please remind your child that if they bring a mobile phone it must be switched off and kept in their bag throughout the school day. Smartphones and phones with cameras are not permitted at school and will be confiscated if discovered; we would appreciate your support enforcing this rule, which we have implemented with our students’ wellbeing in mind.

Finally, it may sound obvious, but it is really important to talk to your child and listen to them. Try and build in time for talking about what’s going on at school, and what is happening in the outside world. Ask your child their opinions on what is happening and encourage them to read a newspaper.

If you would like to know more about supporting your child with homework, these books might be helpful:

• Maths for Mums and Dads by Rob Eastaway
• More Maths for Mums and Dads: The Teenage Years by Rob Eastaway
• Homework Help for Mums and Dads by Karen Dolby
• The Usborne Guide to Better English: Grammar, Spelling & Punctuation
• How to do Maths so Your Children Can Too by Naomi Sani
• Learning Unlimited: Using Homework to Engage Your Child’s Natural Style of Intelligence by Dawna Markova

• The academic calendar is split into three cycles of learning.
• Each learning cycle is twelve weeks long.
• Students will following a carefully sequenced and ambitious curriculum during weeks 1-10. 

Week 11 - Assessment Week

• All students will sit a formal assessment in week 11.
• Student achievement will be reported back to parents and carers.

Our assessment principles:

• Students are tested on the content taught from the cycle and detailed in the Scholars Guide

• Section A & B : Knowledge - teacher will read the assessment aloud and using a visualiser

   Section A will focus on knowledge taught from the cycle of learning just completed.                                     Section B will focus on knowledge taught in previous cycles in that academic year 

• Section C : Application - students will answer independently 

Week 12 - Super Teaching Week

What is super teaching week?

Super Teaching Week is where teaching teams use the data from assessment week (Week 11) to identify gaps in knowledge and common misconceptions. Teachers then deliver lessons that target these areas to ensure mastery and edit their schemes of learning for future year groups so that we can teach it BETTER. Each lesson is done in purple pen to show that this is development work and we use a summative sticker in students' books for students to mark the end of each Cycle's learning.

Why is super teaching week important?

At Oxord Spires we passionate that no child should be left behind and Super Teaching Week is the vehicle we use to explicitly ensure all students from all backgrounds, in all subjects, in all classrooms have the opportunity to master and develop their learning. We also believe that no scheme of learning is perfect and we enjoy reflecting and changing our practice for our students. ‘Getting better is the exciting part’.

Scholar’s Guides are our way of communicating our knowledge rich curriculum to parents and carers and a tool to complement the work done in classrooms every day. Scholar’s Guides develop students to master core knowledge and skills quickly so that teachers can push them further later.

By making knowledge and skills clear via Scholar’s Guides, students and parents can support learning from home, especially when preparing for the week 11 assessments. 

Scholar’s Guides can be used by SEND departments and teaching assistants to preteach students who may require it and to target interventions and re teaching effectively. Some students may require more support and scaffolding but Scholar’s Guide means that every student has access to ambitious lessons planned from an aligned, sequenced curriculum and we avoid denial of knowledge!