The reading gap between boys and girls is increasing, an investigation by MPs has found.
The Boys' Reading Commission has found that the gap between how much time boys spend reading and also how much they enjoy reading is widening when compared with girls.
The Commission, which was set up by the All-Party Parliamentary Literacy Group and the National Literacy Trust, has made a series of recommendations, including calling for boys to have weekly access to male reading role-models.
MPs and Lords on the Commission heard evidence from teachers, boys, literacy experts and authors including Michael Rosen and Michael Morpurgo.
Their report includes research from the National Literacy Trust (NLT) showing that in 2005, 57 per cent of girls said they enjoyed reading compared to 46 per cent of boys – a gap of 11 per cent. However, in 2011, this gap increased to 13 per cent as the figure for boys dropped to 44 per cent.
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