Literacy is the foundation of knowledge, but it is also the key to social mobility. A scarcely believable fact, according to the DfE: that in the 21st century, in one of the most developed countries in the world, one in five children leave primary school unable to read or write properly.
By Year 7, a so-called “literacy gap” is already evident. While most students can decode and comprehend text and can, therefore, acquire facts, practise processes and develop opinions, others need more support.
If children read, they will be happier, healthier and wealthier as adults. Reading really is magic because the statistics are true across all social classes. Reading develops empathy, creativity and intelligence.
An ever-increasing volume of evidence indicates that gender is a significant factor in both choices of reading materials and reading achievement for boys and girls.