Latest news with #JonathanDouglas
Rhyl Journal
25-06-2025
- General
- Rhyl Journal
Only around one in four children enjoy writing in their spare time
The National Literacy Trust (NLT) has warned that the number of young people who enjoy writing in their free time has fallen to its lowest level since they began recording data 15 years ago. Just 26.6% of those aged between eight and 18 said they enjoyed writing in their free time in 2025, compared to 28.7% last year and 46.8% in 2010. The near halving of writing enjoyment over the past 15 years has 'concerning' long-term implications for children's learning, literacy and development outcomes, the charity has warned. Only one in 10 (10.4%) said they write daily in their free time, compared to 11.1% last year and 27% in 2010, the research found. Overall, 114,970 children and young people aged five to 18 from 515 schools across the UK were surveyed by the NLT between January and March. Writing for pleasure is in a 'worrying state of decline' and decreasing levels of writing enjoyment and engagement are 'closely mirrored by troubling attainment figures,' the charity's report said. Last year, 72% of children in England met the expected standard in writing in the Key Stage 2 Sats, compared to 78% in 2019. Younger children, particularly those aged eight to 11, have historically shown higher levels of writing enjoyment, but this year's data shows primary-aged children are 'losing enthusiasm fastest'. Girls, traditionally more engaged in writing than boys, have also seen sharper declines in writing enjoyment than boys in recent years, the report said. But the research suggested that boys and older children continue to show the lowest levels of writing enjoyment and frequency. While paper-based writing remains the most common format of writing, less enthusiastic writers showed a preference for digital writing (such as song lyrics, reviews or scripts), the report said. Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the NLT, said: 'The findings offer a sobering view of writing culture in the UK but also point to actionable insights. 'By focusing on what motivates children and young people, particularly autonomy, creativity, and personal and cultural relevance, they are far more likely to engage with it on their own terms. That's where true progress begins.'
Sky News
25-06-2025
- General
- Sky News
Sharp drop in children writing for pleasure - as experts reveal potential consequences
There has been a sharp and sustained decline in the number of children and young people writing for pleasure, a new report has found. Only one in four children aged 8 to 18 say they enjoy writing in their free time - a dramatic fall in the rate, which has nearly halved over the last 15 years. The report points to an increasing disengagement from writing, with worrying consequences for literacy, learning outcomes, and children's wider development. The levels of enjoyment are falling fastest among those aged 8 to 11, with girls seeing the greatest drop since COVID. "Writing has slipped to the bottom of the rankings in national academic performance, falling below even mathematics," says the National Literacy Trust in a report on National Writing Day. The findings highlight the critical role writing for pleasure plays in children's academic and personal growth. 8:40 Those who write regularly and enjoy doing so benefit not only from stronger writing skills, but also improved critical thinking, confidence and mental wellbeing. Writing, the report argues, gives children the power to express themselves and to interact meaningfully with the world around them. In today's digital-first society, the ability to write clearly, thoughtfully, and critically is more vital than ever. Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust said: "If children are to get the most out of what AI can offer with the ability to add their own thoughts and check outputs, empowering young people with the writing skills they need is critical." "Young people who write with confidence are better equipped to engage with AI-generated content, to question it, and to make it their own," the Trust added. 8:40 Primary school teacher agreed with the report's findings, saying: "At primary, the idea of writing for pleasure has just really been lost. "The problem that we've had as primary school teachers is that the curriculum is just so packed, and so full on, that you don't have a space in it for anything." "There's just too much to cover, not enough time and you're just constantly bouncing from one subject to the next. And there's just, you don't really seem to have the opportunity to get depth with anything, not just writing - just anything." His secondary school colleague Gaurav Dubay, a director of English, added: "Writing for pleasure and writing for length generally seems to be on the decline. There isn't much room on the curriculum for extended creative writing, including fictional and transactional pieces. "However, there is a growing consensus that this needs to change." 9:36 Children eligible for free school meals are more likely to enjoy writing in their free time than their peers (31.1% versus 25%), the report found. The National Literacy Trust is calling for the government to embed writing for pleasure into the National Writing Framework and prioritise it in upcoming Curriculum and Assessment reforms. The report was conducted by the National Literacy Trust and is the largest ever Annual Literacy Survey, involving over 114,000 children.
Leader Live
25-06-2025
- General
- Leader Live
Only around one in four children enjoy writing in their spare time
The National Literacy Trust (NLT) has warned that the number of young people who enjoy writing in their free time has fallen to its lowest level since they began recording data 15 years ago. Just 26.6% of those aged between eight and 18 said they enjoyed writing in their free time in 2025, compared to 28.7% last year and 46.8% in 2010. The near halving of writing enjoyment over the past 15 years has 'concerning' long-term implications for children's learning, literacy and development outcomes, the charity has warned. Only one in 10 (10.4%) said they write daily in their free time, compared to 11.1% last year and 27% in 2010, the research found. Overall, 114,970 children and young people aged five to 18 from 515 schools across the UK were surveyed by the NLT between January and March. Writing for pleasure is in a 'worrying state of decline' and decreasing levels of writing enjoyment and engagement are 'closely mirrored by troubling attainment figures,' the charity's report said. Last year, 72% of children in England met the expected standard in writing in the Key Stage 2 Sats, compared to 78% in 2019. Younger children, particularly those aged eight to 11, have historically shown higher levels of writing enjoyment, but this year's data shows primary-aged children are 'losing enthusiasm fastest'. Girls, traditionally more engaged in writing than boys, have also seen sharper declines in writing enjoyment than boys in recent years, the report said. But the research suggested that boys and older children continue to show the lowest levels of writing enjoyment and frequency. While paper-based writing remains the most common format of writing, less enthusiastic writers showed a preference for digital writing (such as song lyrics, reviews or scripts), the report said. Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the NLT, said: 'The findings offer a sobering view of writing culture in the UK but also point to actionable insights. 'By focusing on what motivates children and young people, particularly autonomy, creativity, and personal and cultural relevance, they are far more likely to engage with it on their own terms. That's where true progress begins.'
South Wales Guardian
25-06-2025
- General
- South Wales Guardian
Only around one in four children enjoy writing in their spare time
The National Literacy Trust (NLT) has warned that the number of young people who enjoy writing in their free time has fallen to its lowest level since they began recording data 15 years ago. Just 26.6% of those aged between eight and 18 said they enjoyed writing in their free time in 2025, compared to 28.7% last year and 46.8% in 2010. The near halving of writing enjoyment over the past 15 years has 'concerning' long-term implications for children's learning, literacy and development outcomes, the charity has warned. Only one in 10 (10.4%) said they write daily in their free time, compared to 11.1% last year and 27% in 2010, the research found. Overall, 114,970 children and young people aged five to 18 from 515 schools across the UK were surveyed by the NLT between January and March. Writing for pleasure is in a 'worrying state of decline' and decreasing levels of writing enjoyment and engagement are 'closely mirrored by troubling attainment figures,' the charity's report said. Last year, 72% of children in England met the expected standard in writing in the Key Stage 2 Sats, compared to 78% in 2019. Younger children, particularly those aged eight to 11, have historically shown higher levels of writing enjoyment, but this year's data shows primary-aged children are 'losing enthusiasm fastest'. Girls, traditionally more engaged in writing than boys, have also seen sharper declines in writing enjoyment than boys in recent years, the report said. But the research suggested that boys and older children continue to show the lowest levels of writing enjoyment and frequency. While paper-based writing remains the most common format of writing, less enthusiastic writers showed a preference for digital writing (such as song lyrics, reviews or scripts), the report said. Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the NLT, said: 'The findings offer a sobering view of writing culture in the UK but also point to actionable insights. 'By focusing on what motivates children and young people, particularly autonomy, creativity, and personal and cultural relevance, they are far more likely to engage with it on their own terms. That's where true progress begins.'
North Wales Chronicle
25-06-2025
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Only around one in four children enjoy writing in their spare time
The National Literacy Trust (NLT) has warned that the number of young people who enjoy writing in their free time has fallen to its lowest level since they began recording data 15 years ago. Just 26.6% of those aged between eight and 18 said they enjoyed writing in their free time in 2025, compared to 28.7% last year and 46.8% in 2010. The near halving of writing enjoyment over the past 15 years has 'concerning' long-term implications for children's learning, literacy and development outcomes, the charity has warned. Only one in 10 (10.4%) said they write daily in their free time, compared to 11.1% last year and 27% in 2010, the research found. Overall, 114,970 children and young people aged five to 18 from 515 schools across the UK were surveyed by the NLT between January and March. Writing for pleasure is in a 'worrying state of decline' and decreasing levels of writing enjoyment and engagement are 'closely mirrored by troubling attainment figures,' the charity's report said. Last year, 72% of children in England met the expected standard in writing in the Key Stage 2 Sats, compared to 78% in 2019. Younger children, particularly those aged eight to 11, have historically shown higher levels of writing enjoyment, but this year's data shows primary-aged children are 'losing enthusiasm fastest'. Girls, traditionally more engaged in writing than boys, have also seen sharper declines in writing enjoyment than boys in recent years, the report said. But the research suggested that boys and older children continue to show the lowest levels of writing enjoyment and frequency. While paper-based writing remains the most common format of writing, less enthusiastic writers showed a preference for digital writing (such as song lyrics, reviews or scripts), the report said. Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the NLT, said: 'The findings offer a sobering view of writing culture in the UK but also point to actionable insights. 'By focusing on what motivates children and young people, particularly autonomy, creativity, and personal and cultural relevance, they are far more likely to engage with it on their own terms. That's where true progress begins.'
