Peterborough's literacy rates improve in year of reading

A Peterborough headteacher says allowing children to choose what they want to read is an important part of improving literacy rates.

St Augustine's Junior School have been promoting a love of reading in their children, with lessons including making book covers, writing graffiti walls and recording book reviews on tablet devices.

In 2026, 77% of children at St Augustine's achieved the expected reading rate, above the national average of 75%.

2026 is the National Year of Reading, an initiative set up by the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust to improve reading rates.

'We encourage everyone to read what interests them'

"The traditional way of every child sitting down with the same reading book might be a little bit old school now" says Sam Brunt.

"We encourage everyone to read what interests them, whether that's a recipe book, whether that's a non-fiction book or a traditional story novel, anything that gets them interested."

Those comments are echoed by year six class teacher Stefano Rocchio: "Reading is kind of the backbone of what we do in school, without reading they are going to struggle with a lot of the other aspects of the curriculum.

"We try and incorporate reading into everything that we do in school, promoting it through reading cafes, activities and weekly reading sessions."

The children say they enjoy choosing which books to read and show lots of diverse tastes.

Isha picked out 'The Boy in the Dress' and says: "It's funny and sad. It's like a comic and you have lots of laughs. This was my first ever thick book I read."

Annesha enjoys reading a book about artist Frida Kahlo, from the children's biography series 'Little People, Big Dreams.' She says it's because she 'likes art and the pictures.'

Zina is challenging herself with a longer mystery book called 'Tunnels.'

"I really like murder mystery books which sometimes make me cry, this one made me cry a bit when I first read it."

Leja is reading a Horrible Histories book called 'The Woeful Second World War.'

"It's very interesting and gives lots of facts about the Second World War."

The National Literacy Trust has been working with the Department of Education to run 'The National Year of Reading' in 2026.

They have been working in cities like Peterborough, where they run activities to promote reading, including working with Peterborough United .

That work has been supported by Peterborough City Council. Katy Cole, the Labour cabinet member for children and young people, says it has been a great help across some of the city's deprived wards.

"In areas where they have been focusing their efforts we have seen a real improvement in the love, the joy, the enthusiasm and the engagement with reading."

However, the council has faced financial pressures recently, and they consulted on closing a number of their smaller local libraries around the city.

They included Woodston library, which is a short walk from St Augustine's school and facilitates regular visits from the pupils.

Jennie Storey, the Chair of the Friends of Woodston Library says libraries are 'a magical place' and the children are always 'smiling, laughing and reading' when they visit.

The importance of reading for young children is often best summed up by parents.

Katie Rose has had her first children's book published called 'The Monster Story'.

She made up the story for her four year old daughter when she was waiting for an operation. She says it's really important that parents get involved in reading too:

"It's just that time together, you sit there together and you pick up a book and you cuddle. It's one of our favourite times of the day."

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