Leweston School Launches National Year of Reading 2026 With ‘Go All In’ Commitment

Leweston School is proud to announce its participation in the National Year of Reading 2026, a year‑long national initiative designed to re‑ignite children’s love of reading by connecting stories with the lives, interests and cultures of young people today.

The launch comes at a crucial moment. According to the National Literacy Trust’s 2025 Reading Report, reading enjoyment among children and young people is at its lowest in 20 years. Only 1 in 3 (32.7%) children aged 8-18 reported enjoying reading in their free time, a dramatic 36% decline since 2005. Daily reading habits have also fallen sharply, with fewer than 1 in 5 (18.7%) children reading every day.

The report highlights a particular decline among primary-aged pupils and boys aged 11-16. However, it also reveals what motivates young people to pick up a book:

• Material linked to favourite films or TV (38.1%)
• Books connected to hobbies and personal interests (37.1%)
• Eye‑catching covers and titles (30.9%)
• And importantly, the freedom to choose (26.6%)

These insights directly shape the National Year of Reading’s ethos: reading should “fit how we live, not the other way around,” linking stories to interests such as family, football, food, films and more.

Leweston’s ‘Go All In’ Approach

As part of our commitment, Leweston will focus on three themed strands across the next three terms:

• Spring Term - In the Room:
  Celebrating reading through the Library, author spotlights, book displays, and student engagement events.
  
• Summer Term - In the Setting:
  Highlighting reading that happens everywhere: in lessons, assemblies, tutor time, extra‑curricular activities and outdoor learning spaces across our 46‑acre site.
• Autumn Term - Into the Community:
  Connecting with our wider local community through shared reading initiatives, partnerships, and outreach projects.

The Official Leweston Launch

Leweston will launch the National Year of Reading on World Book Day - Thursday 6th of March 6^th for us as a school, during a special assembly.

To mark World Book Day, Year 7 and 8 students have been invited to dress as their favourite book characters and present a short pitch explaining their chosen character. There will be prizes awarded for creativity and expression.

Over the coming months, we look forward to sharing events, challenges, reading inspiration and community projects as we embrace the message to GO ALL IN for reading.

References:

National Literacy Trust 2025 Reading Report – https://literacytrust.org.uk/reading-for-pleasure/ 

National Year of Reading - https://goallin.org.uk/