Students in Year 7 and Year 8 have begun the McGraw Hill Literacy Initiative, a programme designed to help students boost their reading proficiency.

The scheme is continuing at the Academy this year after it was introduced last year with a number of successes.

Higher Learning Teaching Assistant Helen Bennett said: “A selection of Year 7 and Year 8 students are following this intensive reading programme.

“The McGraw Hill reading intervention is a systematic programme designed to accelerate students to outstanding reading proficiency.

“The students really enjoy the structure of the lessons and are benefitting from small group settings.”

English instructor Ann Ingram said: “It complements the English lessons the students do.”