reading ahead improving literacy through reading for pleasure
TRANSCRIPT
Reading AheadImproving literacy through
reading for pleasure
The Reading Agency
• Independent national charity founded in 2002• Mission to give everyone an equal chance in life by
helping people become confident and enthusiastic readers. Because everything changes when we read
• Inspire, share and celebrate reading• Formal partnership with public libraries; work
nationally with government, broadcasters, publishers• Work with libraries, schools, colleges, prisons,
workplaces at local level
What is Reading Ahead?(formerly called Six Book Challenge)
• An invitation to read six books or other ‘texts’ and record, review and rate reading in a diary
• Library support for choosing what to read• Creative activity such as reading groups• Incentives to increase retention• Certificate for those who read less than six things
(participation certificate for less)• A proven way of engaging and motivating adults to
improve their literacy skills
Creating a virtuous circle
Learners engaged in (more) text
Learners enjoy
reading
Learnerspractise
skills
Learners improve
skills
Learners want to
read more
Target audience
• People aged 16 and above who struggle with the written word or who are learning English (or Welsh)
• It is also useful for people who want to get back into reading
• The key requirement is that participants should be challenging themselves
Why is it needed?
• 5.1 million adults of working age are STILL at the level expected of an 11 year old (moved from 16% to 15% since 2003)
• 14.8 million adults would not achieve a GCSE at A* - C grade (improved from 39.5% to 28.5% since 2003)
2011 Skills for Life Survey: Headline findings Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Dec 2011
• 16-24 year olds in England are rated 22nd our of 24 countries for literacy.
• They have slightly worse skills than people aged between 55 and 65.Survey of Adult Skills (PIACC), OECD, Oct 2013
National agendas in 2015/16
• Business, Skills & Innovation Committee Report on Adult Literacy & Numeracy asking for better funded, more flexible and higher profile approach
• Read On Get On – 10-year coalition initiated by Save the Children to ensure every child reading ‘well’ by age of 11 – importance of family dimension
• Rise in participation age to 18 and drive for students to achieve Grade C GCSE English
Six Book Challenge 2015 headline results
• 48,000 people registered• 12,000 through public libraries and partners• 19,000 in FE and sixth form colleges• 13,5000 in prisons• 3500 in workplaces
• 92% of survey respondents said they felt more confident about reading
Eight years of the Six Book Challenge
• Grown seven-fold since 2008• Four sectors with colleges ahead – approx 120
FE and 6th form colleges in 2015 across the UK• Recognised by Ofsted, HMI Prisons • Endorsed by college principals, prison
governors, workplace managers and heads of library services
Six Book Challenge 2008-15
2008 total 7000
2009 total 9000
2010 total
13,500
2011 total
18,000
2012 total
23,500
2013 total
35,000
2014 total
40,000
2015 total
48,000
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20000
Public librariesCollegesPrisonsWorkplaces
Reading Ahead 2015/16• Packs to promote the programme and run it
available for September start• Prize draws for completers – trip to London• Prize draws for public libraries, colleges,
prisons and workplaces – author visits• Gold/silver/bronze award scheme• Support from four ambassadors – Martina
Cole, Andy McNab, Adele Parks and Bali Rai
Benefits for participants
• Increase in confidence about reading• Increase in other skills, eg writing, vocabulary,
speaking and listening, and knowledge• Increase in enjoyment in reading• Increase in sense of well-being, belonging,
identity as a reader• Tangible record of achievement – certificate,
CV, testimony
Benefits for organisers
• ‘Off the peg’ nationally recognised programme• Practical framework to support skills development• Simple tool for partnership working• Raises awareness of the library offer• Creates a buzz around reading for all ages & abilities• Start of a reading journey – progression to
volunteering/mentoring, reading group activity
Reading Ahead website• www.readingahead.org.uk • Unique Find a Read database – nearly 500 titles• Invitation to create online profile, log, rate and
review each read• Improved search and reviewing facilities• More explicit labelling for reading level search• Strategy to encourage greater use and more focus on
shared reading recommendations, eg prize draws
Emergent reader publishers
• www.quickreads.org.uk• www.accentpress.co.uk • www.newisland.ie• www.barringtonstoke.co.uk• www.ransom.co.uk • www.axiseducation.co.uk • www.newleafbooks.org.uk• www.gatehousebooks.org.uk • www.readwellroad.com
