What can we learn about reading attainment in North East England?

Abstract

This article discusses a forthcoming study which will be focusing on factors which influence reading attainment in North East England. This region is an outlier in UK national assessments; at the end of Key Stage 2, it is the highest attaining region outside of London, but the lowest attaining region nationally at GCSE. Government policy and other organisations have identified literacy on leaving school as a social issue. This study will therefore seek to address the question: What factors help determine the level of reading attainment in North East England? Here, an overview of current evidence relating to the region’s attainment is given and gaps in current understanding are identified. This is followed by proposed methodology for the study, which will initially use data from PISA, PIRLS and the National Pupil Database. Finally, the potential impact of this research is discussed, with a focus on how this study will add to the current literature.