National Year of Reading: Secondary school webinars
What is the offer:
Join our series of webinars to mark the National Year of Reading 2026 where we will explore routes into reading for young people and equip secondary schools with the research and best practise to respond.
Webinar series 1: Our latest research on teenage reading
(Live with recording)
This three-part webinar for secondary school teachers and leaders draws on our latest research into young people’s reading habits to explore what works, where the biggest needs are, and how schools can respond. Each session offers insights to help you foster a culture of reading that feels authentic and relevant to students’ lives.
Webinar series 2: Go all in with Shakespeare Out Loud
(Pre-recorded resources)
This includes teacher and student-facing resources to promote accessible, inclusive and social experiences for routes into Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet. The sessions are devised by the Guildford Shakespeare Company, an award-winning theatre company and arts education charity known for delivering ground-breaking social inclusion and well-being projects, and who place audiences in the heart of the play through their site-responsive staging.
What the webinar sessions will involve
Webinar series 1: What our research tells us about teenage reading
Session 1: Teenage reading
Date and time: Tuesday 3 February 2026 15:45-16:30
Location: Zoom webinar platform
Why attend:
- Hear from our research team about their latest research on young people’s engagement with reading, and what young people tell us could help (re)ignite their interest
- Explore how recognising and validating teenagers’ interests and reading choices can build a sense of agency and identity
- Consider how schools can build on that to sustain engagement
Session 2: The link between literacy and mental wellbeing in teenagers
Date and time: Thursday 9 July 2026 15:45-16:30
Location: Zoom webinar platform
Why attend:
- Hear from our research team about the latest data from our 2026 Annual Literacy Survey tells us about how reading engagement can support self-expression, resilience, and emotional health
- Consider what this means for how schools design literacy environments that nurture wellbeing as well as attainment
Session 3: Teenagers' engagement with audiobooks and podcasts
Date and time: Tuesday 10 November 2026 15:45-16:30
Location: Zoom webinar platform
Why attend:
- Hear from our research team about what our 2026 survey data tells us about the role of audio in developing comprehension, vocabulary, and reading engagement
- Consider the opportunities for schools to use audio to support teenage reading experiences
Webinar series 2: Go All In with Shakespeare Out Loud
What’s included:
Released in March 2026, the second webinar series will explore the power of reading Shakespeare out loud to bring his plays to life. Sign up to receive:
- Two pre-recorded webinars for practitioners, one on Macbeth and the other on Romeo and Juliet will show how speaking the words together can spark connection, build confidence, and create a truly inclusive space where every voice matters
- Recordings designed for direct use with students—making Shakespeare accessible, collaborative, and fun, letting your students tell the story, own the language, and share the experience
