£5m for secondary school libraries announced in Budget
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced £5 million of new funding for state secondary schools to establish libraries.
It follows an earlier pledge of £10 million in funding to provide every primary school in England with a library by 2029.
One in seven primary schools in the UK do not have access to a library according to figures from the National Literacy Trust. That rises to one in four for disadvantaged areas, and almost half of schools in England without a library are located in the North
The investment follows the DfE announcement that 2026 will be The National Year of Reading - a campaign to address the steep decline in reading amongst children, young people and adults.
The National Year of Reading will position reading as a powerful contemporary activity and will aim to engage new audiences in reading and to change the national reading culture for good.
Latest News
15/01/2026 - 10:16
The Scottish Government is increasing investment in its free after school activities programme so that it reaches more children.
15/01/2026 - 09:52
The campaign aims to tackle the worrying decline in reading for pleasure, with reading rates among young people dropping to its lowest level since 2005,
14/01/2026 - 09:58
Almost half (46 per cent) of teachers across Europe do not think schools are equipping students with the skills needed for an AI future — a concern shared by two in five teachers in the UK (41 per cent).
13/01/2026 - 09:51
An additional £20 million of funding has been allocated to support essential capital repairs and maintenance across schools and colleges in Wales this year.
13/01/2026 - 09:45
Now in its 17th year, the Education Business Awards continue to recognise and celebrate the outstanding work, dedication, and achievements of schools and academies across the UK.
