đź“° Adult Literacy News Summary
Jessie Kelly-Baxter of NECC on North East's potential
18-Nov-2025 - UK
Jessie Kelly-Baxter, policy manager, North East Chamber of Commerce writes about unlocking potential. It is easy to talk about work experience in abstract terms: “skills development”, “employability” or “talent pipelines”. Research and engagement across the region highlight why this is so vital. Many young people face barriers to opportunity, whether due to family circumstances, geographic location or systemic disadvantage. Adult literacy and communication skills are particularly critical: at the Chamber, we conducted research through our Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) work to understand literacy beyond basic reading and writing, looking at competence in the workplace.
Read moreWelsh sporting heroes helping children with dyslexia to read
16-Nov-2025 - UK
The careers of Welsh sporting heroes such as Jess Fishlock, Alun Wyn Jones and Gareth Bale are being used to help children with dyslexia to read. Because of Covid, pressure on parents and distractions such as electronic devices, author James Stafford was concerned less youngsters were reading, so wanted to bring the stars of Welsh sport to life to encourage them. His book Wonderful Welsh Sporting Heroes, and Welsh language version Arwyr Chwaraeon Cymru, does that with colourful illustrations, interesting facts and career highlights.
Read moreMeasuring Learning Outcomes in Literacy and Basic Skills - RAMAED
14-Nov-2025 - Africa
Initiated by UIL at the request of French-speaking African countries, the RAMAED (literacy component) aims to support participating countries in setting up a system for monitoring and evaluating the quality of literacy provision. Specifically, the aim is to use standardised instruments, translated and adapted into the national languages selected by the participating countries, to assess the performance of the beneficiaries of literacy programmes - young people and adults aged 15 and over - in the areas of literacy, numeracy and life skills.
Read moreThousands of Staffordshire adults supported with Community Learning
12-Nov-2025 - UK
More than 6,000 Staffordshire residents have benefited from adult education and skills programmes over the past year. Staffordshire County Council’s Community Learning service, which helps adults who face barriers to accessing mainstream education, has enabled residents to build their confidence, improve wellbeing and progress towards employment and further learning.
Read moreTeacher's worst fears confirmed when struggling students suddenly started submitting A-grade papers
11-Nov-2025 - USA
A Los Angeles high school English teacher's routine grading session took a shocking turn when his lowest-performing students began turning in flawless A-grade essays - all at once. The culprit wasn't an underground website or a secret group chat but Google Lens, a tool embedded directly into every student's school-issued Chromebook. Students simply hover over a test or essay question and instantly receive AI-generated answers - all without switching tabs or typing a single word.
Read moreBedford literacy charity pledges 1.5 million reading sessions to inspire a nation of readers
11-Nov-2025 - UK
Children’s enjoyment of reading has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years, with just one in three choosing to read for pleasure, according to a Bedford-based charity that is now taking on the challenge to turn the page on what they say is a worrying trend. Schoolreaders, the UK’s largest in-school child literacy charity, has pledged to deliver 1.5 million one-to-one reading sessions in primary schools across England by the end of 2026, a 50 per cent increase on last year’s record-breaking total.
Read moreReform UK mayor’s ESOL cuts not catching on – yet
07-Nov-2025 - UK
A Reform UK mayor’s plans to ditch ESOL courses because they don’t benefit “native” residents have not yet been copied elsewhere in England, an FE Week investigation has found. Last month, Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA) mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns announced her intention to redirect about £1 million in funding spent on English for speakers of other languages courses towards a more “inclusive” literacy and numeracy programme
Read moreNorth East charity tackling adult literacy crisis as new branches set to launch in Northumberland
07-Nov-2025 - UK
A North East charity is taking action to tackle an adult literacy crisis, with new Read Easy groups set to open in Northumberland to add to other parts of the region. The expansion comes as recent research from the North East Chamber of Commerce revealed that 23% of adults in the region struggle with functional literacy. Read Easy Newcastle and North Tyneside now have more than 40 volunteers and 25 active readers, Gateshead and South Tyneside groups are up and running and Northumberland is in the process of launching and actively recruiting new volunteers.
Read moreNew national curriculum’s skills agenda starts to bring England in line with world-leading education systems
07-Nov-2025 - UK
Proposed changes to England’s national curriculum aim to ensure it is fit for the future, writes Professor Becky Francis in her introduction to the final report of the government’s independent curriculum review. The panel that conducted the review sought to address the “rich knowledge and skills young people need to thrive in our fast-changing world”.
Read moreBBC 500 Words welcomes new celebrity judge Rose Ayling-Ellis
07-Nov-2025 - UK
The UK’s most successful children’s writing competition, BBC 500 Words has added a 6th judge to its panel of celebrity judges – actor and children’s author Rose Ayling-Ellis, who brings fresh perspective and inspiration to the competition that celebrates creativity in all its forms. Rose joins an already star-studded panel including Malorie Blackman, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Sir Lenny Henry, Charlie Higson, and Francesca Simon, with Alex Jones returning as chair.
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