Literacy news

Reading unpopular pastime for young people, new research reveals

30 Mar 2010

New National Literacy Trust findings from a major study of 17,089 pupils from 112 schools reveal that only half (50.6%) of young people enjoy reading very much or quite a lot. 

The finding is published in a new report, Literacy: State of the Nation ; the first coherent picture of literacy in the UK today. With the recent budget, a date for the election soon to be announced and political parties in full campaigning mode, Literacy: State of the Nation; reveals that the need to focus on literacy is greater than ever before.

Literacy: State of the Nation reveals that:

• One in six people in the UK struggle with literacy. This means their literacy is below the level expected of an eleven year old

• A quarter of young people do not recognise a link between reading and success

• Men and women with poor literacy are least likely to be in full-time employment at the age of thirty

However, the report does contain some good news

• 73% of parents and carers say their child often reads

• The number of children achieving the expected levels for reading at age eleven increased from 78% in 1999 to 86% in 2009

• The number of children achieving the expected levels for writing at age eleven increased from 54% to 67% in 2006, but this figure plateaued and remained  the same (67%) three years later in 2009

You can read the full media release here or download Literacy: State of the Nation here.

Tags: Children, Reading Champions, Reading Connects, Schools & teaching, Young People

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