For many years St. Joseph’s has put great stress on literacy. Pupils are screened on entry and pupils with difficulties are identified and offered support.  For example, in first years all pupils participate in a reading scheme whereby they are paired with a transition year pupil and read aloud to them, thus increasing their confidence.

Parents and pupils were surveyed and resurveyed on their reading habits and there has been an increase in reading for pleasure since the initial survey. The literacy team run a reading week twice yearly and junior pupils use a keyword journal.

The corridors are decorated with text-rich material as are the classrooms. The dedicated literacy noticeboard is under revamp in the school.