New Year 8 Reading Test Announced to Boost Literacy Progress in Secondary Schools

The Department for Education has announced a new statutory reading test for Year 8 pupils in England, aimed at improving literacy levels and ensuring all students continue to make progress throughout secondary school.

The announcement was made by the Education Secretary during a speech at the Confederation of School Trusts (CST) conference, where she highlighted the importance of reading as the foundation of learning and achievement. The new assessment will focus on both reading fluency and comprehension, ensuring pupils have the core literacy skills required to access the full curriculum.

Why is the new Year 8 assessment being introduced?

Currently, statutory assessments in reading occur at the end of primary school in Year 6 and at GCSE level in Year 11. This leaves a significant gap across Key Stage 3 where pupil progress is not consistently measured. Evidence suggests that many pupils who leave primary school just meeting the expected reading standard either plateau or fall behind during these crucial early years of secondary education.

According to government data:

• Around 25% of pupils leave primary school unable to read to the expected standard.
• Among disadvantaged pupils, that figure increases to 33%.
• The lack of ongoing assessment between Year 6 and Year 11 leaves some pupils without timely intervention.

The new Year 8 assessment is intended to identify gaps in reading development early in secondary school, allowing schools to tailor additional support where needed.

What will the new assessment look like?

Full details have yet to be released, but the Department for Education has confirmed that:

• The test will be statutory and introduced across all secondary schools in England.
• It will focus on reading fluency and comprehension, not just word recognition or decoding.
• It is being designed to be supportive rather than punitive, with an emphasis on tracking progress rather than creating pressure for pupils.
• Further guidance and administrative details will be provided to schools in the coming months.

The Education Secretary emphasised that this initiative is “not about putting pressure on teachers or pupils”, but rather about providing schools with clear, timely data that can help ensure no pupil falls through the cracks.

Sector Response

While some school leaders have welcomed the announcement as a step towards addressing post-primary literacy concerns, others have expressed caution. Concerns have been raised around:

• Test overload and whether the new assessment will add to the existing burden on pupils and staff.
• Resource allocation, particularly in schools already under pressure to deliver literacy catch-up from the pandemic.
• The need for appropriate funding and training to support implementation.

However, many education professionals agree that early intervention in Key Stage 3 is essential, especially given the link between poor literacy and wider educational disengagement.

What happens next?

The Department for Education has committed to working with school leaders, teachers and literacy experts to develop and trial the assessment before rollout. A formal consultation is expected to follow, with pilot schemes potentially starting as early as autumn 2026.

The aim is to ensure the assessment fits seamlessly into existing teaching practices, helping educators identify and support pupils who need targeted reading intervention at a critical stage in their development.

If your school is preparing for the Year 8 reading test and needs additional teaching or support staff, get in touch with our experienced team. Let’s work together to ensure every child has the opportunity to flourish.