Unpacking our three-year Goldsmiths’ 500 Writers programme
Here at the National Literacy Trust, we have a keen understanding of both the broader, national education and literacy landscape, and the more nuanced priorities and socio-economic pressures that are faced region to region. As an organisation, we use a breadth of insight, expertise and research to unpack the discrepancies around children’s literacy levels across the UK. We are passionate about tackling literacy inequality, empowering children across the UK with the vital literacy skills they need to grow, learn and thrive.
However, we know that one size doesn’t fit all.
That is why we have adopted a place-based approach where we work alongside local teams and partners who provide on-the-ground knowledge and experience to help us shape our programmes.
National Literacy Trust Programme lead Ki-Li Watkins explains how we used our research-led approach to underpin our understanding of localised need and create our latest three-year writing programme, funded by the Goldsmiths’ Company Charity.
Using research to develop a targeted approach to tackle a national writing crisis
Our recent research exploring children and young people’s relationship with writing and writing enjoyment showed that nationally, writing for enjoyment levels are at crisis point. In fact, fewer than 3 in 10 (28.7%) children and young people aged 8 to 18 said that they enjoy writing in their free time. This matters because when children and young people enjoy writing and write daily in their free time, their writing skills, critical thinking skills, confidence, creativity and wellbeing benefit.
Moreover, research shows us that there is a direct link between poverty and low levels of literacy, and highlights that the transition period from KS1 to KS2 is a critical juncture where children’s literacy could be negatively impacted.
Faced with this research, and using it to underpin our next steps, we took coordinated action at a local level to drive up literacy levels.
So, what is the Goldsmiths 500 Writers programme?
The Goldsmiths’ 500 Writers programme is an ambitious three-year writing initiative that aims to improve the literacy skills of over 1,000 children living in disadvantaged communities across 21 primary schools in Bradford. Crucially, the structure of the three-year programme means that we will also be able to use this as an opportunity to map children’s progress as they transition from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2.
As part of the programme, pupils will enjoy six fully funded visits to Bradford's cultural and heritage sites, including theatres, sporting venues, and museums. Research has shown that providing pupils with memorable experiences outside the classroom can motivate them to write and can impact progress. By drawing threads from arts, culture, local heritage and history, the programme will create a rich environment of experiences, inspiration and influences to fuel the children’s writing.
There will also be an opportunity for children to see their writing published. Working with local partners and venues, the children’s creative writing will find a real audience via blogs and podcasts, giving their writing purpose, fostering civic pride in the local area, and maximising the opportunities afforded by collaboration with Bradford City of Culture 2025.
The grant to rollout this writing programme comes from the Goldsmiths’ Company Charity who has a long-standing commitment to improving literacy for children in the early years stage and at primary school.
Why Bradford?
Statistics show that Bradford is the fifth most income-deprived local authority in England with 22% of children living below the poverty line. Both primary and secondary school pupils in Bradford are behind the national average in reading and writing attainment, with pupils from disadvantaged communities falling furthest behind. This number has been steadily increasing with factors like the ongoing cost-of-living crisis exacerbating the issue with families unable to afford resources to support their children's learning.
The National Literacy Trust has had a strong local presence in Bradford for over a decade. Our longstanding relationship with local schools and partners has demonstrated success through innovative and community-driven projects.
Therefore, Bradford – a city which is also being celebrated nationally during 2025 – is the ideal location to roll out the Goldsmiths’ 500 Writers programme as we build on the work our frontline teams have done since 2014 to engage over 30,000 children, families and teachers, and distribute more than 50,000 books to children—many of whom previously did not own a single book.
The high take-up rate of the fully funded 500 Writers programme, generously supported by the Goldsmiths’ Company Charity, also highlights the significant need for such initiatives in schools in the area.
We also believe that by taking coordinated action at a local level to drive up children’s literacy levels, we can support increased educational attainment and employability skills, while improving health outcomes and social capital.
What can participating teachers expect from the programme?
Participating teachers will receive ongoing training and tools to transform cultural visits into powerful opportunities for enhancing pupils' reading and writing skills, while building a collaborative professional network across schools.
The unique longitudinal nature of the writing programme will enable us to support pupils and their teachers over three years, across the critical transition period from KS1 to KS2. Despite the known challenges and potential impact on literacy levels at that point of transition, professional development for teachers working with this age group has historically been underfunded. Through our programme, we will empower teachers to design learning sequences to mitigate against this, develop reading fluency and support pupils to develop their ‘writer's voice’.
The participating teachers will also receive vital and targeted CPD to showcase techniques that will help develop pupils' literacy skills over a sustained period, allowing us to measure the long-term impact of a combination of evidence-based approaches.
What is the programme’s legacy in Bradford and beyond?
Our work in Bradford already demonstrates our commitment to the area and its communities. The writing initiative is a way to build on this legacy and continue to support, empower and equip both the children who take part in the programme but also the teachers who will be there for years to come. Due to the unique longitudinal design, we will be able to respond to evolving professional development needs across the three-year programme. Teachers participating in the first year will also become in-house experts for colleagues joining in subsequent years which further reinforces our priority to equip local teachers to create a sustainable model.
Our hope is that the Goldsmiths’ 500 Writers programme, underpinned by research, expertise and local insight, will shape Bradford primary school children's writing and subsequently, equip them with the literacy skills they need to thrive in the future.
How to get involved
If you’re a teacher in Bradford
To find out more about the Goldsmiths 500 Writers programme and the work we do in communities to empower people with the literacy skills they need to succeed in life, visit: literacytrust.org.uk/500-writers-challenge
Be part of making a difference in your local area
We'd love to hear from you if you're passionate about the communities of Bradford. Email the local team via Bradford@literacytrust.org.uk to find out more about our work in Bradford and how you can come alongside the National Literacy Trust to change children's life stories.
Partner with us
We couldn't change the lives of children up and down the country through the power of literacy without corporate support from passionate and generous companies like Goldsmith's company charity. If you are interested in partnering with us to make a difference, email partnerships@literacytrust.org.uk to start a conversation.