Building reading enjoyment at Key Stage 3

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BookTrust's family survey has revealed a worrying decline in children's enjoyment of reading through primary school and into the first years of secondary school. 

The study found that while 33% of 7-year-olds say they love reading, this drops to 29% at age 10 and further declines to just 25% by age 11.

The survey results come shortly after it has been revealed that while reading achievement for school pupils in England is higher than the international average, the country ranks in the bottom third worldwide for childhood reading enjoyment.

BookTrust research shows that children who enjoy reading tend to read by choice more often, for longer, and become more skilled readers. Alongside higher academic achievement, the wider benefits of reading include improved speech and language skills, better mental wellbeing, enhanced social skills, and stronger relationships. Reading also fosters imagination, empathy, and creativity.

Shared reading can be a fantastic way to encourage reading enjoyment, with conversation and fluid talk around books playing a vital role in drawing in students who might not think that reading is for them. Reading for pleasure should be fun – students don’t want it to feel like ‘learning’. Instead of making them write about what they’ve read, informal low-stakes book chats are much more inviting!

To explore strategies for building reading enjoyment at Key Stage 3 and to find out more about our Spark Reading programme, why not sign up for BookTrust’s free Supporting reluctant and unengaged readers at Key Stage 3 guide.

Go to www.booktrust.org.uk/supporting-KS3-readers to find out more.