The government is being urged to include audiobooks in the new schools curriculum in England, following research that shows fewer children are reading books for pleasure, but more are listening to them instead. A poll conducted by the National Literacy Trust (NLT) found that children’s enjoyment of listening to audio and podcasts has increased compared to the previous year, surpassing their enjoyment of reading for the first time since the charity began asking about audio in 2020.
More than two in five (42.3%) of the 37,000 children and young people aged between 8 and 18 in the UK who participated in the poll said they enjoyed listening to audio in their free time in 2024, up from 39.4% in 2023. Meanwhile, reading for pleasure has declined to “crisis” levels, with just over one-third of children (34.6%) saying they enjoyed reading in their free time. Boys were particularly disenchanted with books, resulting in a 28.2% v 40.5% gender gap.
The NLT stated that audiobooks and podcasts could be a gateway into reading for pleasure for boys and girls, and they are advocating for increased access to and a wider range of reading formats available to pupils to include audio. The charity emphasized the benefits of listening to audio, such as sparking a love of reading, supporting literacy development, deepening learning, and boosting wellbeing.
However, not everyone shares the view that audiobooks are a substitute for reading. John Mullan, a professor of English at University College London, argued that audiobooks are unresponsive and passive, and do not offer the same exchange or rapport as having parents read a book to a child. Rachel de Souza, the children’s commissioner for England and former headteacher, agreed, stating that audiobooks can provide access to great literature, but should not replace reading the “real thing.”
The government is expected to publish an interim report on its curriculum and assessment review shortly. Education experts believe that supporting literacy skills is essential, and encouraging children and young people’s enjoyment of listening could be a valuable tool in that effort.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/feb/25/audiobooks-england-new-schools-curriculum-reading-national-literacy-trust-poll
