The children leaving school with reading age of just 13
Survey highlights crisis in literacy
THE literacy crisis in Scottish education has deepened as research shows many schoolleavers have the reading age of 13-year-olds.
Researchers said the ‘alarming’ study suggested secondary pupils were not reading challenging enough books – and potentially harming their ability to properly understand exam papers.
Many 16-year-olds sitting the SNP’s National 4 and 5 exams have the reading ability of a 13-year-old or lower, according to a major survey.
Experts are calling for more dedicated time for reading in secondary school, after looking at the performance of 29,524 pupils across Scotland for the ‘What Kids are Reading’ report.
Last night, one senior academic said the figures backed up concern Scottish education ‘isn’t what it was’ and urgent changes were needed.
Scottish Tory education spokesman Liz Smith: ‘This study is deeply worrying and lays bare the full extent of the challenge that is facing schools as they try to raise attainment.
‘Along with proficiency in numeracy, reading and writing are the keys that unlock the door to wider educational and employment opportunities.’
The study by literacy and assessment provider Renaissance UK found an emphasis on literacy development in primary schools, which sees pupils typically read more advanced books for their age.
But progress largely stops in secondary school, with the difficulty of books falling as pupils get older, both among boys and girls and across the UK. But that could be reduced by reading for only 15 minutes a day.
Keith Topping, professor of educational and social research at Dundee University, said: ‘If I were the education minister looking at these results, I would find them alarming. We know that Scottish education isn’t what it was – international studies show this.’
He said the survey compared the reading ability of children with the level of skill they would be expected to display, according to their age group.
The Renaissance study found pupils in secondary school often read books that are no harder than those in primary school.
David Walliams’ books and Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series dominate the top ten books read by both primary and secondary pupils. Renaissance UK managing director Dirk Foch said: ‘The fall in teenagers’ reading ages is striking.
‘By the time many come to sit their National 4 and 5 examinations, many will have a reading age of 13 or less, meaning they could even struggle to comprehend their exam papers.
‘This could have a significant impact on their future academic success.
‘Evidence shows that pupils make the most progress when they read for just 15 minutes per day, so I would encourage all secondary school teachers to build some dedicated reading time into the timetable to avert a further fall in literacy levels among young people.’
According to recent official figures, illiteracy rates among teenagers have soared since the SNP introduced its school curriculum, with fewer than half of 13 and 14-year-olds performing well in writing.
Figures from the Programme for International Student Assessment have shown Scots pupils lag behind peers in South Korea, Vietnam and ex-Soviet
‘Impact on their future success’ ‘Struggle to comprehend’
bloc countries Estonia and Slovenia on key skills.
Scottish Labour education spokesman Iain Gray said: ‘This is further evidence of the stubborn attainment challenges we see in our classrooms.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Improving education and raising standards for all is this Government’s number one priority.
‘That is why our education reforms have a relentless focus on literacy and we are making a significant investment, through the Attainment Challenge and Pupil Equity Funding, to close the literacy attainment gap.’
John MacLeod – Page 17