Browns Books has been appointed by the Department for Education to support the delivery of its £5 million investment in books and other reading materials for secondary schools as part of the National Year of Reading 2026.
All state-funded secondary schools in England with pupils in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 are eligible, including academies, free schools, maintained schools, special schools and alternative provision settings.
Allocations are determined based on the number of pupils and weighted by school size and disadvantage, with funding ranging from £450 to £1,400 per school. This funding is specifically intended to increase schools’ provision of books and reading materials.
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As the chosen supplier, Browns Books will provide access to the largest stockholding of print, eBooks and multimedia titles in the UK. This breadth of choice empowers schools to make their own selections that reflect the interests, backgrounds and accessibility needs of their pupils.
The funding will form a part of schools’ wider reading for pleasure priorities, and schools may choose to supplement this funding with their own budgets to expand their provision.
By improving access to books and reading materials, the funding will also support the ongoing legacy of the National Year of Reading, helping pupils to enjoy and engage with reading long beyond the end of the campaign year.
The DfE has published guidance for schools to accompany this funding, including more detail about the programme and tips to support schools to make the most of their funding.
Browns will also provide support and inspiration to help schools make the most of their funding. This includes a dedicated Reading-for-Pleasure Hub, bringing together curated collections, new and forthcoming titles and reading ideas for different interests and reading abilities.
Browns will manage each school’s allocation against the programme requirements, ensuring the funding is used specifically for books and reading materials that support reading for pleasure.
The programme has been designed to maximise value for money while keeping the purchasing process simple for schools. A single supplier and ordering platform enables competitive pricing and discounts, reduces administrative burden and provides the DfE with the management information needed to monitor purchasing and ensure funding is used for its intended purpose.
Minister for Early Education, Paul Waugh, said: ‘Reading opens up the whole curriculum and whole worlds of imagination, but recent data shows reading performance has fallen across much of the world.
“England is already ahead of many comparable countries, but we want to go much further and lead the way in getting more young people enjoying reading. That’s why, through the National Year of Reading, we’re investing £5 million to get more books and reading materials into secondary schools, helping every young person find something they want to read.
“This builds on our commitment to put a library in every primary school and make reading a part of daily life from the earliest years.”
Ashley Stafford, managing director of Browns Books, added: “We are incredibly proud to have been appointed by the Department for Education to support such an important investment in reading.
“One of the most exciting things about this programme is that schools have the freedom to choose books that are right for their pupils. Whether that means introducing a reluctant reader to a book that finally captures their imagination, refreshing a school library with new voices and different perspectives, or simply giving an enthusiastic reader even more to discover, this funding has the potential to make a real difference.
“Books have the power to open up new worlds, interests and ideas, and we are really excited to play our part in helping more young people discover the enjoyment of reading.”
Browns Books is also extending its own National Year of Reading campaign, Anything is Possible… With a Book, throughout the DfE programme to the end of March 2027. With a different theme each month, the campaign will provide further inspiration for schools and young readers, celebrating reading and the possibilities that can begin with a book.
