Back to News
Schools in England sidelining dressing-up for World Book Day, MPs hear
Politics•March 3, 2026 at 6:11 PMNational

Schools in England sidelining dressing-up for World Book Day, MPs hear

By Richard Adams Education editor•The Guardian - UK News

Literacy experts say move comes over cost concerns and fears costumes can detract from reading for pleasureSchools in England are moving away from pupils dressing up as their favourite literary characters for World Book Day, with experts telling MPs they feared the cost of costumes undermined efforts to increase reading for pleasure.Jonathan Douglas, the chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, said schools were aware of the strains that preparing costumes could place on disadvantaged families, telling MPs on the Commons’ education select committee: “Many schools are incredibly sensitive to that, and are taking away the narrative around dressing-up on World Book Day.” Continue reading...

Literacy experts say move comes over cost concerns and fears costumes can detract from reading for pleasure

Schools in England are moving away from pupils dressing up as their favourite literary characters for World Book Day, with experts telling MPs they feared the cost of costumes undermined efforts to increase reading for pleasure.

Jonathan Douglas, the chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, said schools were aware of the strains that preparing costumes could place on disadvantaged families, telling MPs on the Commons’ education select committee: “Many schools are incredibly sensitive to that, and are taking away the narrative around dressing-up on World Book Day.”

Continue reading...

Related News

Campaigners welcome Miliband’s claim Palestine Action ban not meant to criminalise ‘grannies’ – UK politics live
UK NewsPolitics

Campaigners welcome Miliband’s claim Palestine Action ban not meant to criminalise ‘grannies’ – UK politics live

Defend Our Juries welcomes ‘honesty’ from foreign secretary and says his remarks will help in its legal challengeBurnham...

The Guardian - UK News43 minutes ago
Andy Burnham expected to say he will push ahead with electoral reform plans
UK NewsPolitics

Andy Burnham expected to say he will push ahead with electoral reform plans

Exclusive: Labour conference speech will kick off process that could replace current system with proportional representa...

The Guardian - UK News1 hour ago
Burnham to signal willingness to look at scrapping pension triple lock to fund social care
UK NewsPolitics

Burnham to signal willingness to look at scrapping pension triple lock to fund social care

PM to tell Labour conference he is prepared to make difficult arguments and have ‘honest conversation’UK politics live –...

The Guardian - UK News2 hours ago
‘We have time to make our case’: Labour insiders are confident Burnham can sell his social care reforms
UK NewsPolitics

‘We have time to make our case’: Labour insiders are confident Burnham can sell his social care reforms

Analysts believe PM has a ‘golden opportunity’ to offer older people better protection in return for weakening the tripl...

The Guardian - UK News5 hours ago
The Papers: 'Labour split on triple lock' and 'Plot's going on, PM?'
Politics

The Papers: 'Labour split on triple lock' and 'Plot's going on, PM?'

A number of the papers preview a speech from Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Tuesday.

BBC News - UK9 hours ago
Burnham promises to roll back privatisation with government-backed grid plan
UK NewsPolitics

Burnham promises to roll back privatisation with government-backed grid plan

Exclusive: Creation of GB Grid will be major step towards putting Britain’s utility companies into public control Andy B...

The Guardian - UK News13 hours ago

More From These Categories

Politics

View All

No other articles in this category yet.

Featured Artists