First Minister’s Reading Challenge expanded to secondary schools

Category: News

The First Minister’s Reading Challenge is being expanded to secondary schools across Scotland. The scheme, which aims to encourage literacy and a love of reading in young people, will now be piloted up to S3 in six schools across Scotland.

The pilot schools are St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High, Bannockburn High School, Renfrew High School, Arbroath Academy, Clydebank High and Sgoil Lionacleit, Benbecula.

Earlier this year the First Minister announced that the scheme was being rolled out to all primary school children, following a trial year among P4-P7. Research shows reading for pleasure drops off as young people reach secondary school and the expansion of the scheme is designed to ensure young adults continue to enjoy reading long after they have left primary school.

Speaking during a visit to one of the pilot schools, St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High School, the First Minister said:

“I am incredibly proud of the success the First Minister’s Reading Challenge has had in nurturing a love of reading for pleasure amongScotland’s young people which is why this expansion to secondary schools is so exciting.

“I am determined to ensure we continue to promote reading as one of life’s greatest pleasures – and that young people reap the benefits of the resulting educational attainment that can be achieved.”