The Department for Education has pledged £5 million to be split between all state-funded secondary schools in England
Number of pupils, school size and disadvantage are all factors that decide how much funding will be allocated(Image: Shared Content Unit)
Schools across Hull and East Yorkshire will receive a share of a £5 million cash injection given by the Department for Education to provide books and other reading materials to state-funded secondary schools across the country. All state-funded secondary schools in England with pupils in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 are eligible, in a bid to help “every young person find something they want to read”. Around £148,000 of the funding will be allocated to schools within Hull, East Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.
The Department for Education appointed Browns Books to support the delivery as part of the National Year of Reading 2026. The number of pupils, school size and disadvantage are all factors that decide how much funding will be allocated. Eligible schools include academies, free schools, maintained schools, special schools and alternative provision settings and the money ranges from £450 to £1,400 per school. This funding is intended to boost schools’ provision of books and reading materials.
Browns Books, which has the largest stockholding of print, eBooks and multimedia titles in the UK, will oversee schools’ allocations and make sure the money is being spent on books and other reading materials. Schools will make their own selections that reflect the interests, backgrounds and accessibility needs of their pupils. Schools may choose to supplement this funding with their own budgets to expand their provision.
The DfE has published guidance for schools to accompany this funding, including more detail about the programme and tips to support schools to make the most of their funding. Browns is also set to support schools make the most of their funding. Their Reading-for-Pleasure Hub brings together curated collections, new and forthcoming titles and reading ideas for different interests and reading abilities.
Minister for Early Education Paul Waugh said: “Reading opens up the whole curriculum and whole worlds of imagination, but recent data shows reading performance has fallen across much of the world. England is already ahead of many comparable countries, but we want to go much further and lead the way in getting more young people enjoying reading.
“That’s why, through the National Year of Reading, we’re investing £5 million to get more books and reading materials into secondary schools, helping every young person find something they want to read. This builds on our commitment to put a library in every primary school and make reading a part of daily life from the earliest years.”
Ashley Stafford, managing director of Browns Books, said: “We are incredibly proud to have been appointed by the Department for Education to support such an important investment in reading. One of the most exciting things about this programme is that schools have the freedom to choose books that are right for their pupils. Whether that means introducing a reluctant reader to a book that finally captures their imagination, refreshing a school library with new voices and different perspectives, or simply giving an enthusiastic reader even more to discover, this funding has the potential to make a real difference. Books have the power to open up new worlds, interests and ideas, and we are really excited to play our part in helping more young people discover the enjoyment of reading.”
Browns Books is also extending its own National Year of Reading campaign, “Anything is Possible… With a Book”. The campaign has a different theme each month, and aims to inspire schools and young readers.
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