Oldham primary schools receive £62k boost for pupils' literacy

Primary schools across Oldham are set to benefit from a significant literacy boost this month, thanks to the Bookmark Reading Charity.

The initiative, part of the charity’s acclaimed Your Story Corner programme, will bring new opportunities to inspire a love of reading among young learners.

Bookmark Reading Charity is investing £62,000 across 31 schools in Oldham, marking the town as the latest community to benefit from the initiative.

The Your Story Corner programme helps schools enhance their whole-school reading culture, embedding reading for pleasure into everyday life.

Each participating school will receive:

· 200 high-quality books suitable for children aged 4–10.

· Exclusive access for teachers to Reading for Pleasure training, CPD, and development opportunities.

· Annual subscriptions to the charity’s termly children’s magazine, The Story Corner.

· Additional resources and support to nurture a lifelong love of reading.

To celebrate the programme’s launch in Oldham, pupils at Woodlands Primary School were treated to a surprise visit from CBBC presenter and sports commentator, Ben Cajee.

Ben read an engaging extract from The Bridges by Tom Percival and shared how reading inspired his career, leaving the children motivated and excited about the books they can now explore.

The pupils then enjoyed workshops with Here Be Dragons children’s author Susannah Lloyd; followed by a welcome visit from Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Eddie Moores, who praised the charity’s efforts to support children in the area, setting them up for brighter futures.

The Literacy Challenge in England and locally

One in four children in England leave primary school unable to read well - a gap that disproportionately affects children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Research from the Education Endowment Fund shows these children are, on average, a year behind their peers and only 10% go on to pass English and Maths GCSE.

Bookmark Reading Charity is committed to ensuring every child can read, equipping them with the essential skills to thrive in school and beyond.

The charity prioritises areas with higher child deprivation and lower Key Stage 2 reading results. Oldham, with four neighbourhoods among the top 1% most deprived in the country1, demonstrates a clear need: Key Stage 2 pupils in the borough are more likely to struggle with reading than the national average2, with only 71% of pupils in Oldham achieving the expected reading score, compared to the national average of 75%3.

Your Story Corner: proven impact

The Your Story Corner Programme has already made a measurable difference in cities such as Birmingham, Rochdale, Sheffield, Plymouth and Hull:

· 74% of partner schools reported an increase in how often children read at school

· 99% saw a boost in reading enjoyment

· 69% noticed an improvement in whole-school reading culture

Voices from Bookmark Reading Charity, Oldham and VIP guests

Emily Jack, CEO of the Bookmark Reading Charity, said: "We’re delighted to bring Your Story Corner to Oldham.

"Every child deserves the chance to discover the joy of reading for pleasure - not just as a skill to learn but as a doorway to imagination, confidence and opportunity.

"When children have access to rich, diverse stories that reflect their lives and open up new worlds, they begin to see themselves as readers.

"Our programme aims to help children build positive reading habits that will stay with them for life and build the foundations for future success.

"We are proud to support schools in the area – Bookmark's aim is to ensure that every child has access to the resources and inspiration they need to thrive.”

Susan O’Brien, Assistant Principal at Woodlands Primary Academy, said: "The children were thrilled with the diverse selection of books.

"The excitement has spread across the school, and it’s wonderful to see pupils motivated to read more.

"This programme will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on their reading levels."

Councillor Moores, Mayor of Oldham, added: "We acknowledge Oldham faces challenges, but initiatives like Bookmark Reading Charity’s Your Story Corner programme are crucial in giving our children access to books and fostering a love of reading.

"Every book, every lesson, and every opportunity to enjoy reading brings us one step closer to closing the literacy gap in Oldham."

Bookmark Reading Charity’s Your Story Corner programme launched across primary schools in Oldham this November, 2025.

To learn more about programmes, grants, resources and volunteering opportunities with Bookmark Reading Charity, visit: www.BookmarkReading.org

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