England is suffering a ‘deep-rooted’ literacy crisis, charity warns as research reveals the majority of constituencies contain at least one ward with serious literacy issues.
The National Literacy Trust and Experian looked at the social factors most closely associated with low literacy to create a literacy vulnerability score for every single electoral ward and parliamentary constituency in England.
The research revealed 86% of English constituencies had at least one ward with ‘serious’ literacy problems.
The constituency with the greatest literacy problems is Middlesbrough, followed by Barking, Hackney South and Shoreditch, Liverpool (Walton) and Sheffield (Brightside and Hillsborough).
The analysis reveals that low literacy levels aren’t restricted to regions with low income, employment and social deprivation.
In England, 458 constituencies contain at least one ward with greatest literacy need, which leaves just 75 constituencies with no serious literacy issues.
Inner cities and their surrounding areas dominate the list of locations with a need for the greatest literacy support. All 50 places suffering the most come from cities, towns or districts surrounding urban areas.
‘For 20 years, the Government has addressed England’s widening literacy gap through national strategies,’ said Jonathan Douglas, director of the National Literacy Trust.
‘We now know that a new, targeted approach is needed as our work with Experian reveals the country’s literacy challenge to be intensely local.
‘Strong local leadership and partnerships are vital to tackling this and MPs are ideally-placed to drive effective local solutions.’
