Transcript

NICK:

Getting students to read can be a big challenge, especially after the summer holidays or on transfer to secondary school. And keeping them reading as they get older and have more homework can be really difficult too. Some schools do use formal point-based reading schemes, and these can really work well, but I think the real goal is to make reading for pleasure a habit beyond the classroom, and this is where the library can be really effective.

We know from research that this has huge benefits, not just in terms of vocabulary and general knowledge but also for young people's empathy and well-being and their outcomes in life. So try to engage staff in initiatives like DEAR, Drop Everything and Read, and work with your special educational needs department. You could set up a program to get older students to help reluctant readers.

It's also good to have reading role models. These could be celebrities, but it could even be your own teacher setting an example. Things like Get Caught Reading can be really effective. Encourage teachers to take photos of themselves on holiday reading a book. The students love to see that. Or you could get them to try to match teachers with their favourite books.

You can use World Book Day to get the whole school involved. I chose a short story, divided it up, and got teachers to read it for five minutes in each lesson. This worked really well. Students wanted the next installment and wouldn't let teachers get away without reading it.

So whatever you do, it's important that teachers are involved and that senior leaders are on board. And it's important to be aware of the diversity of staff and students in our community while doing this. Reading for pleasure can be a great leveller.

Themed events such as Black History Month or Pride are a great opportunity to promote books that perhaps students wouldn't otherwise think of reading. You have to make these initiatives seem exciting and appeal to students so they want to have a break from their screens and read a book instead. And really, that's what it's all about.