How Bushey Meads School built a consistent reading routine with over 80% completion

What does it take to make reading a consistent, everyday habit across a whole school, especially in a context where many students arrive behind in literacy?

At Bushey Meads School, nearly half of Year 7 students start with a reading age below their chronological age, and the school has one of the highest rates of additional needs in the county. Despite this, they have built a reading routine that is consistent, accountable and sustained, with over 80% of students completing weekly Sparx Reader homework.

This case study explores how they did it: the routines they prioritised, the expectations they held firm, and the systems they put in place to make reading work for every student, every week. You will also find practical strategies in this checklist that your school can adopt.