Fostering a Lifelong Love of Reading

The National Literacy Trust found that reading for pleasure has dropped to its lowest level in 20 years, with only one in three children and young people saying that they enjoy reading in their spare time.

So, in an effort to boost reading among young people, the government has launched the ‘National Year of Reading’ campaign. Findings show that when young people read according to their interests, have freedom of choice, and can link reading to other media they engage with, they are more likely to take up reading as a hobby.

World Book Day 2026

Research has reported the myriad benefits of reading for pleasure. It will come as no surprise that reading…

• Nurtures empathy

Being exposed to new perspectives and narratives through fiction and stories helps individuals develop empathy, a crucial skill for development and emotional intelligence.

• Boosts confidence

It was found that 26% of children and young people who read in their free time at least once a month said it helps them to be confident.

• Sparks imagination

Books spark new ideas, encourage creativity and provide an escape where students can ‘get lost’ in a story.

• Broadens horizons

Students are exposed to whole new worlds through reading. In following their curiosity, readers learn about new and exciting topics.

• Aids learning

Reading for pleasure correlates with above-average reading skills, vital for learning and vocabulary expansion.

Ultimately, reading for pleasure has been shown to support not only reading skills, but wider literacy skills, as well as promoting wellbeing, empathy, confidence and an aptitude for learning.

At Marymount, we encourage not only a lifelong love of learning but a lifelong love of reading – a pastime that is also facilitated by the IB curriculum we offer.

Recent research on the difference between IB and non-IB students found that students in the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) outperformed students in other international schools in the International Schools Assessment. Here, the impact of an IB curriculum, including its strong emphasis on reading and literacy skills, on academic performance is tangible.

Our IB programme uniquely fosters a love of reading. Students study English Literature throughout the MYP and Diploma Programme (DP), where reading is facilitated not only for academic purposes, but as a preferred pastime. We consistently remind students of the joy of reading, the pleasure of losing oneself in a book, outside of academic lessons.

In order to support a student body of avid readers, we model what a love of reading looks like. Our full-time librarian shares regular book recommendations, celebrating occasions to read, and takes a student-centred approach to engaging our student body. Our enforcement of a mobile phone ban during school hours also implicitly promotes students to pick up a book where they may otherwise reach for their phone.

We recognise that students are more likely to adopt recommendations from their peers, so we gather and share this information, alongside their teachers’ favourites! Check out some of our students’ book recommendations below.

In a world that is becoming increasingly technology-focused, we remind our community of the fundamental skill of reading, one that will never go out of style and will continue to reap benefits both inside and outside of the classroom.