| Title: |
Children and Young People's Reading in Scotland in 2025 |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Christina Clark; Katerina Stoumpou; Irene Picton; Katherine Wilkinson; National Literacy Trust (United Kingdom); Scottish Book Trust |
| Source: |
National Literacy Trust. 2026. |
| Availability: |
National Literacy Trust. Swire House, 59 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6AJ, UK. Tel: +44-2078-282435; Fax: +44-2079-319986; e-mail: contact@literacytrust.org.uk; Web site: http://www.literacytrust.org.uk |
| Peer Reviewed: |
N |
| Page Count: |
18 |
| Publication Date: |
2026 |
| Document Type: |
Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: |
Foreign Countries; Children; Youth; Reading Habits; Recreational Reading; Reading Attitudes; Literacy; Surveys; Behavior; Motivation; Individual Characteristics |
| Geographic Terms: |
United Kingdom (Scotland) |
| Abstract: |
Regular engagement with reading in free time is linked to a wide range of benefits for both individuals and society, from higher academic achievement and better career outcomes to improved wellbeing. Yet in 2025, levels of reading enjoyment among children and young people across the UK fell to their lowest in 20 years. Only 1 in 3 (32.7%) said that they enjoyed reading in their free time, and just 1 in 5 (18.7%) reported reading daily. The latest results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) showed Scotland performing above the OECD average in reading. However, scores in both reading and maths were lower in 2022 than in 2018. Against this backdrop, encouraging children and young people to develop positive reading habits is more important than ever. In 2023, working with the Scottish Book Trust, National Literacy Trust published the first Scotland-focused reports on children and young people's reading and writing, based on data from 1,141 pupils aged 8 to 18 across eight schools. This report builds on that foundation with a much larger sample: 7,739 children and young people from 61 schools who took part in the 2025 Annual Literacy Survey. Alongside attitudes, behaviours and motivation, the report explores how background factors influence reading in their free time and what might help strengthen children and young people's reading engagement. The National Literacy Trust hopes this report helps to shine a spotlight on reading engagement in Scotland and sparks wider discussion about how to support and inspire children and young people to engage more deeply with reading across the UK. |
| Abstractor: |
ERIC |
| Entry Date: |
2026 |
| Accession Number: |
ED679261 |
| Database: |
ERIC |