St. George’s British International School joins Year of Reading 2026

You may have heard that the Department for Education (UK) has declared 2026 as the Year of Reading. This is a national initiative to re-emphasise reading for pleasure, literacy development, and the many benefits that flow from being a reader. We are proud to let you know that St George’s British International School is fully on board with this. 

Some facts that underline why this is so important: 

• According to a recent report by The Reading Agency, only about 50% of UK adults now say they read regularly for pleasure, a drop from 58% in 2015.
• About 35% of adults are “lapsed readers” (used to read but don’t now), and 15% have never been regular readers. 
• There are also worrying trends among children: enjoyment of reading has declined, and fewer students report reading daily in their free time.  
• These numbers show there is work to do – and that reading isn’t just about academic achievement, but about wellbeing, imagination, empathy, and lifelong learning. 

What We’re Doing at St George’s British International School

To support the Year of Reading, we are launching a school-wide reading campaign. We want all our pupils—from EYFS through KS1, KS2, and beyond—to build reading into their lives in enjoyable, meaningful ways. Some of our plans include: 

• Reading events and initiatives: book fairs, author visits, buddy reading, reading challenges, reading weeks, etc. 
• Encouraging reading across all key stages: children will have opportunities to choose books, discuss reading, share favorite stories, etc. 
• Parent & family involvement: because reading happens not just at school, but at home and in the community too. 

How You Can Help / Be Involved

Parents are central to making all this work. Here’s how you can engage: through the Reading Habits Survey.  We are asking all parents to complete a short survey about your child’s reading habits: what they enjoy, how often they read at home, what kinds of books or stories appeal to them, etc. This will help us tailor our programmes and know where extra support might be needed. 

Looking Forward

We are so looking forward to welcoming you back into school in person, sharing space, conversations, and ideas. The changes in the school premises and the Year of Reading initiative are both part of our vision for continuous improvement — for children’s learning, for community, and for lifelong curiosity.