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Inside the Reading Gap

Thinking Reading 5 Episodes Jun 19, 2026

Millions leave school unable to read properly. This four-part podcast uncovers the hidden literacy crisis, its human cost, and the solutions that can change lives. The problem has inflicted incalculable harm and blighted lives with misery, but it is unnecessary because we have the knowledge to teach all children and young people to read. The solutions are far cheaper than the ongoing costs of illiteracy. The podcast features headteachers, teachers, charity leaders, researchers, literacy specialists, and most importantly, young people and adults who have struggled with reading.

Episodes

Inside the Reading Gap - Trailer Jun 19, 2026 89 Coming soon, a 4-part podcast looking at the causes and the solutions surrounding illiteracy. More info: Thinking Reading

1. The Silent Epidemic Jun 21, 2026 1236 The number of people who lack basic literacy skills is of epidemic proportions, but most able readers will never know that friends, colleagues or relatives can’t read properly. In this episode, we explore what ‘functional’ illiteracy means, the multi-faceted impacts on all aspects of their lives, and the costs to us as a society. And all this raises the question: how did we get to this place, when

2. Locked Out Jun 21, 2026 931 The correlation between imprisonment and poor literacy is strong. While correlation is not cause, there is no doubt that poor literacy increases the chances of incarceration, and that it makes it much harder for prison to have a positive impact. In this episode, you’ll hear experts describe the links between poor literacy and imprisonment, the challenges of the prison environment for improving lit

3. Reading: Second Nature? Jun 21, 2026 2393 As a society, we have a wide range of explanations for why so many can’t read after eleven years of formal education, including deprivation, lack of intelligence, poor motivation, and presumed disabilities. In this episode, we show how those beliefs don’t hold water and instead show that teaching is the solution. We look at what can be done in schools to prevent literacy problems at the scale we c

4. Hope Jun 21, 2026 2043 A key theme of this series is that there is hope. Reading problems are solvable, and in this episode, we explain what it takes to do that, and that we can achieve far more than is usually thought possible. For people who mastered reading as children, it can be difficult to imagine the life-changing power that learning to read brings. The stories you’ll hear will make clear the radical changes in p

In Conversation with Vic Goddard Jul 24, 2026 1619 Vic Goddard is a veteran headteacher at Passmores Learning Community, and star of Educating Essex. In this episode we discussed his school's transformation in its approach to literacy, and what he's learned along the way.

In Conversation with Carole Herman Aug 7, 2026 1465 Carole Herman is executive director of the Association of Secondary Heads in Essex, known as ASHE, and has previously been headteacher at two secondary schools. We spoke about her time at Shenfield High School in Essex, where she brought about major changes to the school's approach to literacy and the life chances of her students.

In conversation with Mike Mercanti-Anthony Aug 17, 2026 883 Mike is principal of Antonia Pantoja Preparatory School in South Bronx, New York. We discussed the challenges his students face, the liberating power of reading and what it takes to really have an impact through education.

In Conversation with Tony Giles Aug 21, 2026 907 Tony Giles is principal of Mahurangi College in North Auckland, New Zealand. We discussed the recent changes to New Zealand's curriculum and what is needed to deal with NZ's wide achievement gap in literacy.

Inside the Reading Gap

Episodes

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