Why schools love Bookbuzz Secondary

This popular reading programme for secondary schools has been specially developed by BookTrust to encourage young people to get reading.

A large group of children in a hall at Oldham Academy holding up their Bookbuzz books in front of their faces

With over 1,200 schools joining the programme each year, Bookbuzz Secondary is supporting practitioners and librarians in meeting their reading for pleasure objectives, bringing reading to life and inspiring students to become lifelong readers.

To get books into the hands of students who may not have books at home was the best part about Bookbuzz Secondary.

Librarian

What schools already using the programme are saying:

The lessons involving Bookbuzz Secondary have a wonderful atmosphere – firstly the opportunity for the pupils to choose a free book creates lots of excitement and then handing them out matches this.

Librarian

Bookbuzz Secondary titles are chosen with both Year 7 and Year 8 in mind, so we’ve used Pupil Premium funding to keep our Year 8 Pupil Premium students reading. We were blown away by their enthusiastic response! They are genuinely excited about getting to choose and read their own books.

Librarian

Bookbuzz Secondary really does help create that buzz’ about reading. From the moment we tell students that they will get to choose their own book to keep, excitement fills the air.

Head of English

On receiving his Bookbuzz Secondary book [one Year 7’s] tutor noted that he was reading it during silent reading in form time … and has been finding corners in the corridors to read because he is enjoying it so much! The Bookbuzz Secondary scheme has clearly engaged this reluctant reader’ and proves it’s getting the right book into the right hands.

Librarian

Bookbuzz Secondary is all about giving students a choice to find a book they’ll enjoy. Here’s what students say about the programme:

When I read my Bookbuzz Secondary book I feel part of something.

Student

Bookbuzz Secondary means you can find different books you never knew existed that you like.

Student

It has motivated me to read more often and choose books that I wouldn’t usually choose to read.

Student

Each year we see schools sharing about the programme on social media:

Removing barriers to reading for fun

Lucy Morris, Reading Co-ordinator at Oldham Academy North secondary school, uses Bookbuzz Secondary each year to engage their Year 7 and 8s and encourage reading for pleasure. She explains:

We are in one of the most deprived areas in the country, in a community where reading is probably not a main priority, or talked about at home. Reading for pleasure is embedded in everything that we do at our school. Any opportunity to get books into students’ hands, we jump on it.

Read the full case study

Hear from other schools

Did you know Bookbuzz is now available for primary schools too?