Sullivan and Brown found that the impact of reading for pleasure on progress in vocabulary, arithmetic and spelling between 10 and 16 years old was four times greater than the impact of a parent having a degree. 

Sullivan, A. and Brown, M. (2013)

Currently there is a large gap in achievement between secondary school students who read books for pleasure and those who do not. We aim to foster the love of reading by:

• Book clubs
• Book talk during English lessons
• Availibity and access to non-fiction and news articles
• Promotion of book of the month for each key stage
• Book exchanges

Benefits of reading for pleasure

• Correlation between reading engagement and reading attainment
• Vocabulary
• General knowledge
• Understanding of grammar
• Spelling skills
• A link to both improved attainment and more positive attitudes to writing
• Effect on wider academic performance
• Develop empathy for others
• Develop understanding of emotions and vocabulary to discuss these
• Promote a better understanding of the world
• Develop their self and social identities
• Improved mental well-being

EEF recommendation to support reading at home

Research linking reading for pleasure to brain health in teenage years

Click Here to read - Reading for pleasure in childhood boosts brain health in teenage years – study