Secondary school teachers are having to help pupils learn to read, with 11-year-olds stuck on books meant for kids age six.
Education experts say that a “reading crisis”, exacerbated by the pandemic, has led to thousands of youngsters falling behind and being glued to devices, rather than books.
Pepe Di’lasio, president of the Association of School and College Leaders, is also head of Wales High School, in Rotherham, South Yorks, where a dozen 11-year-olds have a reading age of six or seven.
He said: “This is a nationwide issue. The habit of reading is becoming a dying art.”
Heads are asking sixth formers to run reading sessions and retired teachers are coming back to help.
Government figures show one in five 11-year-olds move to secondary unable to read to expected standards. Boris Johnson last year refused to fund a £15billion reading catch-up plan.
Will Millard, of the Centre for Education and Youth think-tank, called it a “real crisis”.
Sir Michael Wilshaw, former chief inspector of education, has been helping children whose reading age has dipped by up to two years. He said: “The Government must bring in catch-up programmes.”
The Department for Education said an “ambitious recovery plan” to raise standards is under way.
