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11/07/25

Nominate Valley Park to win £1000 for the library! You could also win a £100 National Book Token for yourself! https://t.co/lrQWdGa0Qz pic.twitter.com/xvcg6zk8lZ— Valley Park School () July 11, 2025

11/07/25

Well done to the budding young writers who entered the Grim Tales National Writing Competition. Their work will be published later this year, and we couldn’t be prouder of their achievements! Ms Carr and the English department pic.twitter.com/ir9Upca4gI— Valley Park School () July 11, 2025

10/07/25

Year 7 and 8 parents - we need uniform donations for our SHUSH (second hand uniform shop), especially Trousers, Skirts, Blouses, Shirts, Ties, and Blazers. Please visit our website for details: https://t.co/YTbbYuX3ID pic.twitter.com/vWu2xp0Zdt— Valley Park School () July 10, 2025

10/07/25

60 students attended a smaller Transition event to prepare them for the main induction. The took part in group activities to help them get to know each other, and were awarded certificates at the end of the day. We hope our new Year 7s have a wonderful Summer!#wearevalleypark pic.twitter.com/VSGtLJMfzX— Valley Park School () July 10, 2025

10/07/25

Year 8 students showcased their ambitious science projects in the hall, captivating the audience with innovative experiments & bold investigations. Their outstanding presentations reflected their passion and hard work, representing Science at Valley Park with excellence. pic.twitter.com/wxyEro4mgG— Valley Park School () July 10, 2025

09/07/25

There are still tickets for 13Jr, our musical production at the Hazlitt Theatre! Don't miss out on this end of year treat. https://t.co/fefcFXEaQh pic.twitter.com/mSDmNZLkvR— Valley Park School () July 9, 2025

09/07/25

Here's some book ideas for reading through the Summer holidays!#wearevalleypark pic.twitter.com/iKgRAVtwyl— Valley Park School () July 9, 2025

06/07/25

There are many reasons why a student might struggle with attendance at school. Valley Park has a dedicated team to help & support you. To speak to someone, contact us by phone or email & a member of the attendance team will get back to you. pic.twitter.com/MpOCCasUkd— Valley Park School () July 6, 2025

05/07/25

Ashura holds different meanings for Sunni and Shia Muslims. Sunnis celebrate it as the day Moses parted the Red Sea & the salvation of the Israelites. For Shias, it is a day of mourning for Husayn ibn Ali's martyrdom, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. pic.twitter.com/3wtiRS2P3N— Valley Park School () July 5, 2025

04/07/25

House Points update... pic.twitter.com/xCVrxTMdeU— Valley Park School () July 4, 2025

04/07/25

We welcomed our new year 7 students for their transition day yesterday. Ms Flannery, their Head of Year, is really excited to get to know each and every one of them!#wearevalleyparktransition pic.twitter.com/7w7fSW2EzP— Valley Park School () July 4, 2025

01/07/25

Celebrating year 7 student Max, who has achieved the new rank of a Colour Sergeant. On Friday, Max attended the Headcorn aerodrome with his commandant and was invited to the MBC Mayor's lunch, which helped kick-start the Battle of Britain airshow. Well done Max! pic.twitter.com/7QojNXgj9s— Valley Park School () July 1, 2025

29/06/25

58% of Year 7-11 pupils who missed school at the start of the year went on to miss at least 10% of sessions across the whole academic year. Fischer Family Trust#everylessoncounts#wearevalleypark pic.twitter.com/7n6HO97RfS— Valley Park School () June 29, 2025

27/06/25

House points update... pic.twitter.com/0IwMxWJkas— Valley Park School () June 27, 2025

27/06/25

The Feast of the Sacred Heart is a prominent Roman Catholic devotion, symbolising Jesus' Divine love for humanity through His physical heart. It emphasises the unmitigated love, compassion, and long-suffering of the heart of Christ towards humanity. pic.twitter.com/gX6mUi5Bgw— Valley Park School () June 27, 2025

27/06/25

Hannah and Jasmine, Valley Park students and Bearsted Football Club Under-15s players, were invited to watch the England Lionesses train at St George’s Park recently, as they prepare for the upcoming UEFA EURO tournament! 🦁🦁🦁 pic.twitter.com/I3qKXhxrVg— Valley Park School () June 27, 2025

27/06/25

On Tuesday 24 June Valley Park Shakespeare Society performed an extract from The Merchant of Venice as part of the RSC associate school project. Despite morning rain, the outdoor performance at Samphire Hoe was a success. pic.twitter.com/BhS7FeuO7R— Valley Park School () June 27, 2025

26/06/25

It's V in the Park on Saturday 28 June from Midday - don't miss this fabulous annual music event on the Valley Park Field.#wearevalleypark#wearevinthepark pic.twitter.com/2aIZIEmmwP— Valley Park School () June 26, 2025

22/06/25

There are many reasons why a student might struggle with attendance at school. Valley Park has a dedicated team to help & support you. To speak to someone, contact us by phone or email & a member of the attendance team will get back to you. pic.twitter.com/rXhg7UfxGN— Valley Park School () June 22, 2025

20/06/25

Our newest Sixth Formers started today – say hello to our 9 new chicks! Our Sixth Formers are learning about responsibility in Personal Development, and as part of this, are responsible for incubating, feeding, cleaning and watering our new arrivals! pic.twitter.com/DD70VvVM6f— Valley Park School () June 20, 2025

20/06/25

We have 3 amazing shows for you during this year's Arts Week: Dance Extravaganza, Romeo & Juliet, and 13 The Musical. If you want to buy tickets, please visit: https://t.co/IJpO06PN4T pic.twitter.com/sTiaIFVr0m— Valley Park School () June 20, 2025

20/06/25

The Feast of Corpus Christi, meaning "Body of Christ," is a Catholic celebration honouring Christ's presence in the Eucharist. It features processions with the Blessed Sacrament, showing public faith and devotion, with special prayers and hymns. pic.twitter.com/ADjMgCm067— Valley Park School () June 19, 2025

19/06/25

Tomorrow's exams...#examupdate#wearevalleypark pic.twitter.com/5aeKoYoN0b— Valley Park School () June 19, 2025

19/06/25

Litha, the Summer Solstice, is a pagan holiday celebrating the sun and fire on the year's longest day. Stonehenge and similar sites are aligned to showcase the sunrise on this day, attracting thousands of pagans. After the solstice, days shorten. pic.twitter.com/IcAooq55kk— Valley Park School () June 19, 2025

19/06/25

Just returned from an incredible trip to the Marlowe Theatre with our Year 8s to see Pig Heart Boy — they were amazing! As their Head of Year I'm so proud of their impeccable behaviour and brilliant engagement. A real credit to our school pic.twitter.com/GaBFgfxSOB— Valley Park School () June 19, 2025

Accelerated Reader

 

A Parent’s Guide to Accelerated Reader

What is Accelerated Reader?

Accelerated Reader is a computer program that helps teachers manage and monitor children’s independent reading practice. Your child picks a book at their own level and reads it at their own pace. When finished, your child takes a short quiz on the computer. Passing the quiz is an indication that your child has understood what has been read.

Teachers may assist pupils by:

  • Guiding them to books appropriate to their ability and interest;
  • Asking probing questions as your child reads and before quizzing;
  • Pairing your child with others, Reading with or reading to your child.

How can I help my child become a better reader?

As with anything, performance improves with practice. According to Renaissance Learning's research, children who read at least 20 minutes a day with a 90% comprehension rate on AR quizzes see the greatest gains. Encourage your child to read at home, discuss books, ask questions about what they have read and visit your local library.

What is the STAR Reading test?

STAR Reading is used to determine your child’s reading level. It is a computer-based reading assessment programme which uses computer adaptive technology. Questions are continually adjusted to your child’s responses. If the child’s response is correct, the difficulty level is increased. If the child cannot answer a question or answers incorrectly, the difficulty level is reduced. The test uses multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 20 minutes.

What is a Book Level?

Book Levels are reported using the ATOS readability formula and represent the difficulty of the text. The levels range from 0.2-13.5. Text chosen based on the ZPD range recommended for each student by STAR Reading.

What is a Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)?

ZPD is the range of books that will challenge the child without causing frustration or loss of motivation. Your child will receive a ZPD reading range after taking the STAR Reading test. It is important for children to read with a higher degree of comprehension and within ZPD. 

What are Points?

Every book that has an AR Reading practice quiz is given a points value. AR points are based on the length of the book (number of words). Students earn a percentage of points according to how well they pass the quiz.

What is Interest Level?

The interest level indicates for which age group a book is appropriate, based on the content and themes. These are recommendations only and teachers and parents must use their best judgement when guiding students.

Book examples

The examples above have a book level of 4.0 since both have short sentences and vocabulary that is simple. However, Noughts and Crosses is intended for older students, while The Enormous Crocodile is intended for younger students.

How can I find further information?

Visit AR Book Finder to conduct a search of all the books available with AR quizzes.