DD refuses point blank to read her reading scheme books - where do I go from here?

[Quattrocento]

DD is 10 and in year 6. The reading scheme books have been a bone of contention since year 3. She absolutely loathes them. We struggled through years 3/4/5 with a combination of bribery, blackmail, threats etc. Now she refuses to read them at all. We've confiscated her laptop, IPOD and DS until she reads her book this week and it's caused so much stress.

The trouble is, I can kind of see her point, not that we've ever said so in front of her. She is 10 and her reading age is 15 point something per the school. She reads every night and loves her books. The book scheme books are utterly ridiculous and babyish and any competent 8 year old could read them.

We've talked to the school about this without any effect. She's absolutely resolute this time.

Where do I go from here?

well done quattro!
let us know what the response is?

I remember a thread on MN from a Scottish Mum in exactly the same situation with her 10 year old about a year ago. The school was making her dd read Ginn 360 books. She had read all the books in the school and they were planning on making her read them again.

You are not alone, but it is extremely unusual!

Yes...agree with everyone on this but but why not lie and say she has read them???

Did you get a reply from the head on this one, quattrocento?

Just a quick update - no reply from the head as yet - will chase within the next week - thanks for your help and advice - will keep you posted

UPDATE - Long conversation with the head today.

Apparently this policy (which she tacitly admitted was unusual) of making ALL the girls continue with reading scheme books until the end of Year 6 has been driven by the advent of Nintendo.

The school tests reading age at the beginning middle and end of every year. What they discovered is that as soon as the girls technically became free readers, is that they gave up reading in favour of Nintendo, MSN and other Assorted Evils of the Modern Age. And their performance went backwards in these reading tests. Clearly this Could Not Be Allowed To Continue so all the girls were forced to read these goddamn awful reading scheme books.

Part of the problem comes with the (handful) of girls not being admitted into the senior school, I think. Parents getting annoyed etc.

However the Head has graciously consented to allow DD not to read the reading scheme books providing DD fills in a reading record of the books she enjoys reading.

A victory for DD, I feel.