Schools Combat Reading Decline with Innovative Libraries and Book Clubs
In the National Year of Reading, teachers across the UK are reporting that a culture of enthusiasm, including dress-up days, story time sessions, and book clubs, can effectively reverse a national decline in children's reading for pleasure. Research indicates that enjoyment of books among UK children has fallen to its lowest level in two decades, but some schools are bucking this trend with creative approaches.
Christ Church Primary: A Haven for Reading
At Christ Church primary school in Camden, north London, pupils are buzzing with excitement about books. This tiny Church of England school, nestled behind HS2 construction works, recently opened a brand new library funded by Bloomberg, as part of the government's National Year of Reading initiative. The library, designed to be a haven for reading, features colourful shelves filled with new books, toadstool seats, a leaf-patterned carpet, and a cozy reading den where children can curl up with a story.
Ross Fox, the year 4 teacher and English lead at Christ Church, describes the school's numerous initiatives to foster a love of reading. These include visits from theatre groups, storytellers, and authors, as well as stay-and-read sessions for parents on the last Friday of each month. The school also hosts "dress-up days" and "booknics" (picnics with stories) in nearby Regent's Park, while encouraging parents to attend phonics lessons to support reading at home.
Fox emphasizes the importance of these efforts, especially in areas of high disadvantage. "Given we have double the average percentage of children who qualify for free school meals here, it is vital that, whilst they are here with us at school, they are introduced to as much quality literature as possible," he says. "Schools in areas of high disadvantage must do everything they can to be book-rich."
Student Enthusiasm and Diverse Reading Habits
Students at Christ Church showcase a wide range of reading interests. Ajmal, 7, is an avid fan of the InvestiGators comic books, featuring crime-busting alligator secret agents Mango and Brash. Wren, 8, is engrossed in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, while Siva, 8, enjoys both chapter books and comic books, particularly Neill Cameron's Donut Squad series. Nwanneka, 9, loves Kid Normal by Greg James and Chris Smith, a story about an 11-year-old in a school where everyone has superpowers except him.
Stina, 8, one of five new librarians at the school, proudly notes the library's diverse collection. The library is the result of years of collaboration with the National Literacy Trust (NLT), which aims to encourage reading in schools serving families from nearby estates.
Broader Efforts Across the UK
Other schools are also implementing strategies to boost reading for pleasure. At Alton Park junior school in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, year 5 teacher Emma Preston highlights the importance of teachers developing knowledge and enthusiasm for modern children's literature. The school dedicates the first 10 minutes of weekly staff meetings to book discussions and organizes events like reading treasure hunts in summer, "hygge" reading days in January, and "nonfiction November." During National Storytelling Week, children practice reading stories aloud for their parents, creating memorable moments of shared joy.
Preston's students recently visited a Penguin distribution centre, where they met children's author Iqbal Hussain and received signed copies of his book. "It was like gold dust – their little faces," Preston recalls.
Challenges and Community Support
Despite these successes, challenges remain. New research by Unison reveals that almost half of England's library staff have lost their jobs since 2010, with numbers dropping from 17,902 in 2010-11 to 9,497 by 2024-25. This loss of over 8,000 full-time roles highlights the difficulties in supporting reading initiatives amid years of austerity.
At George Green's secondary school and sixth form on the Isle of Dogs in east London, literacy coordinator Sophie Harrison advocates for a school-wide reading culture. Inspired by author and educator Aidan Chambers, she believes every teacher must see themselves as a reader to effectively help children become readers. The school has implemented book clubs for staff and students, reading buddies across year groups, whole-school reading challenges, and a library with about 8,000 titles, constantly replenished and repaired at a "book hospital."
Harrison notes, "There's no silver bullet. It's about lots of little things building up the momentum. It's like a giant book club." This approach underscores the collective effort needed to reignite children's passion for reading across the UK.
