Britain’s Reading Crisis: Oxford 2027 Literacy Summit Seeks Speakers
Britain’s reading crisis has returned to the spotlight as daily reading among children and young people remains near its lowest level in two decades. As concerns grow over declining literacy, the World Literacy Foundation is inviting educators, literacy leaders and innovators from across the UK to contribute to the World Literacy Summit 2027, which will be held at the University of Oxford in April 2027.
Daily Reading Among Young People Remains Near a 20-Year Low
New findings from the National Literacy Trust’s annual literacy survey—the largest of its kind in the UK, covering more than 125,000 children and young people—illustrate the depth of the challenge.
The proportion of children who read every day has fallen from more than 40% in 2015 to just 18.7% in 2025, the lowest level recorded in the past 20 years.
Although the figure edged up to 20.3% in 2026, daily reading remains well below previous levels, underscoring the continuing challenge of strengthening reading habits among younger generations across Britain.
World Literacy Foundation Invites UK Education Leaders to Oxford
Against this backdrop, the World Literacy Foundation has opened applications for literacy leaders, teachers and innovators from across the UK to take part in the World Literacy Summit 2027.
Successful applicants will have the opportunity to deliver presentations, participate in panel discussions or lead collaborative sessions alongside experts from around the world.
Commenting on the initiative, the Foundation’s Chief Executive, Andrew Kay, said:
“As a global summit, it is essential that the UK’s voice is represented. Local expertise and local solutions deserve a place on the global stage.”
The summit will bring together academics, literacy specialists, government representatives, education technology innovators and non-governmental organisations to showcase programmes and initiatives that are delivering measurable results in communities worldwide.
AI, Early Literacy and Global Best Practice to Shape the Agenda
The 2027 programme will examine a range of issues influencing the future of literacy, including artificial intelligence tools designed to support early reading, the latest international literacy evidence and research, early childhood reading and writing development, and successful literacy initiatives from around the world.
Britain’s Literacy Challenge Mirrors a Global Trend
The decline in reading is not confined to Britain.
According to the World Bank, around 70% of 10-year-old children in low- and middle-income countries are unable to read and understand a simple sentence—a challenge widely described as learning poverty.
Data published by the World Literacy Foundation in 2025 estimates that approximately 773 million people worldwide are unable to read, while a further 2 billion struggle to read a simple sentence.
Estimates linked to learning poverty also suggest that today’s students could collectively lose around $21 trillion in lifetime earnings. By contrast, achieving universal basic literacy for all could generate up to $6.5 trillion in global GDP each year, according to figures cited by Ben Piper, Director of Global Education at the Gates Foundation.
Reading Enjoyment Continues to Fall
Britain’s reading challenge extends beyond daily reading habits to children’s enjoyment of reading.
The proportion of children and young people who said they enjoy reading declined from 58.6% in 2016 to 32.7% in 2025, the lowest level recorded in 20 years, before rising slightly to 36.1% in 2026.
The figures come amid growing debate among literacy and publishing leaders over whether society has entered what some describe as a “post-reading era”, driven by the profound impact of technology and social media on reading habits and the way people consume content.
Andrew Kay warned that the crisis is “escalating rapidly”, cautioning that its long-term consequences could affect workforce readiness, economic productivity and the wellbeing of future generations.
Applications Open Until 30 August 2026
The World Literacy Foundation is currently seeking speakers from across the UK to participate in the World Literacy Summit 2027, whether by delivering presentations, joining panel discussions or leading collaborative sessions.
Applications are open until 30 August 2026.
The Foundation works to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn to read, regardless of where they live or their social circumstances. Its work includes providing books, supporting parents and delivering literacy programmes across Africa, Australia, Latin America, the UK and the United States, with the stated goal of eliminating illiteracy worldwide by 2040.
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