AN on-line reading and literacy programme is said to be having a major impact on students of all abilities at a North-East academy.

Darlington School of Mathematics and Science introduced Lexia to help students across the board with the systematic, personalised programme successfully boosting literacy skills and reading age to good effect.

Students can access Lexia in the school library with headphones or at home.

The individualised learning programme assesses their abilities, selects the most appropriate level and guides them through a seemingly endless array of word-based activities, ranging from blends and words to sentences and paragraphs.

Lexia sits alongside another successful reading programme, Accelerated Reader, which has been making in-roads into performance at the school boosting reading ages by years in a matter of months.

Accelerated Reading tests children on their initial reading ability and recommends a range of books of the appropriate age. After students have finished the book they then go on-line to complete a computer quiz on the material they have just read.

If their score is above 80 per cent it shows they have understood the book and the programme then moves them up to the next reading age.

DSMS special educational needs manager Sarah Teasdale said: "Both programmes are really great at stimulating student interest. Lexia ranges from basic to advanced and assesses pupil progress. Students are rewarded frequently and make rapid progress so they don't become disheartened.

"It is also short, sharp and concentrated with 20 minutes sessions that can be completed in tutor group time which means they don't lose interest. They can also use it at home after school, at the weekend or during the holidays and we can monitor their progress at school."

The system is rewards-based with prizes for those students who use it the most, try the hardest, make the most progress and reach advanced levels.

Head teacher Calvin Kilping said: "Both programmes are extremely motivational and ensure that students don't become frustrated. They also use the latest technology so pupils hone their IT skills as well.

"Reading is key to learning and improving their skills means students can better access the full curriculum."

Year 7 pupils continue to read aloud to Year 11 students in form tutor groups, the school has reintroduced story-time in which staff read to pupils and has organised workshops with eminent writers, including Shadowmancer author Graham Taylor.

DSMS last year recorded its best ever exam results in the history of the school and is expecting to improve again this year.