St Pauls 7+ recommended reading

[javaprogrammer]

Looking at the 7+ recommended reading list, I wonder how realistic is it for children in Year2 to be able to read those books. I checked out the Paddington series at Waterstones, they are not easy at all.

My impression is

• Reception: learn phonics, key words, high frequency words, connect into short sentences
• Year1: continue learning to make sentences, short paragraphs (2-3 sentences), richer vocabulary
• Year2: longer paragraphs (up to 10 sentences), short story

Is it something like above? If close, how is it possible a Y2 child can read a Paddington book?

It’s realistic and possibly for the sort of boy (with the sort of parents) who will get into St Paul’s. It’s one of the most academically selective schools in the country, so it takes kids who are far ahead of what many of their peers are doing.

DD went to a selective school from 4 and many girls in her class were free readers in Y1, certainly not "learning to make sentences". DD was reading Horrible Histories by the end of reception iirc or in y1 at the latest.

Boys develop at a slightly different pace but the list is absolutely realistic for a bright child SP is looking for. Comprehension is key of course so it's not just "technically" reading but also discussing with parents.

My DC (in year 2) is able to read those and has been for months - certainly since before they turned 7. Horrible Histories are quite dense text but it’s all pretty accessible, especially for a child who likes history.

@imaravenGRONKGRONK @Ubertomusic
Can you outline in high-level what your dc learned in Reception and Y1?

I think that would be misleading as the school didn't push much and children were getting roughly the same reading HW, otherwise parents would have complained. We did Oxford Reading Tree for HW but it was getting increasingly boring and pointless, and we stopped bothering after Purple band I think beginning of y1 and just read normal books.

There were lots of avid readers in her class.

One of my children was reading fluently by the age of 4. None of the books listed above would have been in any way challenging for him by the age of 7.

If your child is still learning to make sentences in Year 1, op, maybe an academically selective school is not for him?
None of those books should pose a problem for a reasonably bright child.

For an academic selective school I would think those books would be realistic.
My DS is average for English was reading short chapter books by the end of year 1, became a free reader at the start of year 2 and was almost reading those at the end of year 2.

One of my children would have been fine reading those books, and one of them struggled to read a basic picture book at that stage, so it’s not unrealistic for an academic selective school.

my children went to the same primary, the confident reader is basically self taught.

My dd could have managed books like that, my ds couldn’t. My dd is according to her primary and secondary state school, “More Able”. She was writing sentences in upper and lower case at preschool (albeit terrible spelling) whereas DS who is average hadnt even mastered recognising alphabet before reception. Dd was reading fluently by year 1 and just needed to grab new vocabulary and cope with more complex sentences and themes. Whereas ds is still on basic chapter books with pictures.

A kid who is going to get into St Paul’s is not going to struggle reading the Hodgeheg at age 7.

I was also a more able child; I don’t consider myself outstanding. But I would devour books at this age - I remember my mum telling me off for “reading my library books too quickly” and to get longer, harder books next time.

Reading is absolutely essential for 7+ so I would be looking to read to dc and have to them reading alone at least an hour a day .

Both my boys went St Paul’s from 7+, My younger are stronger reader and he read Paddington/ horrible history from Y1. His reading level about Y4 when he was Y2.

However, please don’t worry too much about reading list, my older didn’t read any of them apart from horrible histories. So kids don’t need to read all of them for 7+, they can read something they enjoyed, including football heroes etc.

This is a v realistic list for children who are at super selectives.

It's a realistic list imo for brightish kids in Y2.

My (then) Y1 child read horrible histories until they scared him!

My eldest is currently in reception at a bog standard state primary and his reading books have two or three sentences per page. So I wouldn’t be very surprised if a child applying to St Paul’s would be able to manage that list.