Book Clubs in Schools

Resource type: Book club

Price band: £££

Key stage: KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5

Region(s): All of UK

Book Clubs in Schools provides resources and training to help schools run weekly, peer-led book clubs all through the year to promote reading for pleasure and help students develop critical thinking, communication and social skills.

The programme trains pupils in Years 10 and 12 to lead positive, constructive discussions with groups of younger pupils (Years 6-8) using the resources provided. Participating schools receive a package of support that includes:

Access to a BCiS School Manager to help set up the project and provide ongoing support.
A bespoke BCiS Project Plan.
BCiS Training Manual and online training for Book Club Leaders.
A curated selection of award-winning, diverse Book Club titles to choose from.
A structured programme of questions and activities for each book to help readers think critically and develop their own personal response.
Self-evaluation questionnaires for all participants and a School Impact Report at the end of the project.
BCiS letter templates, badges and certicates for Leaders and Book Clubbers.

Cost: £300 per year plus the cost of the books (approximately £5 per pupil). Funding for books is available for schools with over 40% Pupil Premium pupils.

About Book Clubs in Schools: Book Clubs in Schools was founded in 2014 by Beth Ginsburg and Ali Palmer with the aim of strengthening pupils’ engagement in reading and improving their communication skills, particularly for those at a socio-economic disadvantage. It has been a charity since 2019.

Literacy Hive Likes:

Book Clubs in Schools tackles the decline in reading for pleasure amongst young people aged 11-16. According to the NLT Annual Literacy Survey 2022, only 45.6% of young people aged 11-16 enjoy reading compared with 75.4% of 5-8 year-olds.
The programme is designed to be flexible, scaleable and straightforward for schools to implement.
In the latest Book Clubs in Schools impact report, 70% of Book Clubbers reported that they enjoyed reading more, 61% had made new friends and 57% felt more confident about speaking, while 76% of Leaders felt more confident about leading as a result of participating and 81% had learnt to be more inclusive.
Schools and teachers report an increase in participation and motivation in class, as well as a stronger sense of community and belonging amongst pupils.
Book Clubs in Schools also runs the Picture Book Club for primary pupils and the Summer Book Club for new Year 7 pupils transitioning into secondary school.