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Reading Schools Week

Register to take part in Reading Schools Week, a five-day celebration of all things Reading Schools!

In November 2026, we’ll mark Reading Schools Week – a five-day extravaganza designed to celebrate the incredible activity taking place in Reading Schools across the country. 

You’re invited to join in and connect with thousands of other Reading Schools nationwide by taking part in daily games and challenges, sharing ideas, and having fun with books and stories!

You can expect inspirational videos from authors, interactive daily challenges to get both learners and staff excited about reading and writing, opportunities to showcase your pupils’ achievements, the chance to win some fantastic prizes – including an author visit to your school – and much more. 

Open to all schools, the week is a (free and optional) way to celebrate the joy of reading for pleasure with a network of schools who have the same goals. It’s all about fun, connection, and celebrating the joy of reading for pleasure. Along the way, you might even capture some great evidence for your Reading Schools accreditation. 

Get involved

What: Reading Schools Week 

When: 16–20 November 2026

Who: All primary and secondary schools in Scotland,

About the application process

To register for Reading Schools Week, we recommend first making sure your school is signed up to the Reading Schools programme. If you haven’t joined yet, you can do so here:

Register for Reading Schools

As part of the registration process for Reading Schools Week, you’ll be asked to answer three questions. These will require a little thought and preparation, so it’s worth considering them in advance and using a Word document to save your responses until you are ready to complete the form:

  1. How are pupils involved in shaping, leading or influencing their school's participation in Reading Schools Week? 
  2. What would you say to another school considering becoming a Reading School? (If you have not yet started your Reading Schools journey, just answer with N/A)
  3. What activity or achievement are you most proud of about Reading schools in your school? (If you have not yet started your Reading Schools journey, just answer with N/A)

Once you’ve submitted your responses, you’ll receive a confirmation email letting you know you’re successfully registered for Reading Schools Week. You’ll also get regular updates from the Reading Schools team with tips and resources to help you prepare for the week’s activities.

How: Register now to receive access to all information and resources that you’ll need to participate in Reading Schools Week.

Register for Reading Schools Week

Please note: this link takes you to Scottish Book Trust’s website. Please remember to use your Scottish Book Trust login.

Structure of Reading Schools Week 

Mon 16 November: Drop Everything and Read (DEAR)

Jumpstart the week by making time to read for pleasure! Drop everything and read (or DEAR) shows pupils that reading is important, and worth spending time on. All reading is good reading! This means that pupils get to choose what they read, including graphic novels, comics, magazines, audiobooks, manga, gamebooks, non-fiction and more.

Tues 17 November: Celebrating Characters

Tuesday’s challenge is all about celebrating your favourite characters from books and stories! Who are the characters who stayed with you long after you finished a story? The heroes you want to be like or the villains you love to hate? Tuesday’s theme gives pupils a chance to respond to the texts they enjoy and share that passion with others.

Wed 18 November: Stories are Everywhere

Wednesday’s challenge is about celebrating the fact that stories are everywhere! This includes different kinds of books and stories from around the world, including from different cultures and in different languages.

Thur 19 November: The Art of Books

Thursday focuses on exploring the art of books, including covers, illustrations and graphic novels. Pupils can design book covers, create comic strips, posters and zines, and watch Authors Live episodes featuring leading illustrators such as Jamie Smart, Fiona Lumbers, Benji Davies, Alex Scheffler, Dapo Adeola and Nadia Shireen. Reading Leadership Groups can also help select which broadcasts to showcase.

Fri 20 November: Sharing Books

The last day of Reading Schools Week is about sharing stories, swapping book recommendations and bonding over reading. Reading aloud creates social bonds and a sense of community, and it allows pupils to enjoy a text that they may not have otherwise read – whether because it’s more advanced than their current level, or because you have chosen something outwith their usual preferences. Research from the Open University shows that reading aloud can also create a class “repertoire”, whereby pupils can discuss and bond over shared texts that they have all listened to.

If you have questions about Reading Schools Week, please contact readingschools@scottishbooktrust.com.