New research shows extent of children’s writing crisis

New research by The National Literacy Trust shows that children and young people’s enjoyment of writing and daily writing habits are at crisis point.

The Annual Literacy Survey of more than 76,000 UK children and young people revealed that, in 2024 fewer than three in 10 eight to 18-year-olds said they enjoy writing in their free time – the lowest level recorded by the charity since it first started asking children about their writing in 2010.

One in nine say they write daily in their free time, halving in the past 12 months.

One in three (36 per cent) say they rarely or never write in their free time, a jump of 55 per cent in the same time.

Three times as many children in key stage 1 than those in key stage 4 say they enjoy writing and five times as many say they write something daily in their free time.

Meanwhile, more girls than boys enjoy writing and write daily in their free time.

Young people’s writing skills are also a cause for concern. Last year, three in 10 11-year-olds left primary school without the writing skills expected for their age while a third of 16-year-olds did not achieve a grade 4 or above in English and maths GCSEs; with those from disadvantaged backgrounds worse affected.

Children and young people who wrote at least once a month in their spare time said the process of writing helps them to be creative, express their ideas and imagination, and supports wellbeing, with many writing to relax and because it makes them happy.

Interestingly, while children’s enjoyment of writing at home is in sharp decline, the opposite is true for their enjoyment of writing at school.

More than half of children and young people now say they enjoy writing at school, a 22 per cent uplift in just the past year.

What's more, providing opportunities for children and young people to feel inspired to write at school was found to be linked to their enjoyment and frequency of writing in their free time.

The National Literacy Trust is urging the Department for Education’s forthcoming writing framework to reflect the importance of writing for enjoyment for children’s cognitive, social and emotional development; in much the same way that its updated reading framework now includes the importance of developing a reading for pleasure culture.

Jonathan Douglas CBE, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust, said:  “With children and young people’s enjoyment of writing at an all-time low, and high numbers leaving primary and secondary school without the writing skills they need to thrive, children’s futures are being put at risk. 

“It is now time to provide children and young people with more meaningful opportunities, both in and out of school, to reconnect with the creative elements of writing which transform it into an enjoyable activity that allows for self-expression and that works as a tool to process struggles, make sense of the world and participate actively in civic life."

Children’s author, Malorie Blackman OBE, added: “The findings are a definite cause for concern.

"The writing of stories, poems, journals and diaries allows for reflection, expression, innovation and imagination, all of which are stepping stones to improving creativity as well as mental wellbeing.

"I hope the report is used as the spur to further engender and encourage a love of writing for pleasure.”