Anna Szpakowska
Literacy consultant, educator and speaker

About Get Them Reading

Supporting leaders, teachers and librarians to meaningfully develop and maintain a culture of reading for pleasure at Key Stage Three and Four.

Services

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Why schools need support with reading for pleasure right now

The latest research shows that young people’s reading habits are at a twenty-year low. We know that reading for pleasure improves academic outcomes, mental wellbeing and life chances. Yet schools often struggle to find viable, lasting strategies to engage young people with reading. One-off initiatives are not enough. What schools need is a sustainable way to embed reading for pleasure – one that works with their staff, timetable and context.

Who I work with

Senior leaders

Headteachers, deputies and literacy leads who want to make reading for pleasure a whole-school priority – not just a pocket of good practice.

English departments

Heads of English and classroom teachers who want to build student engagement with texts and grow their own confidence in promoting reading.

School librarians

Librarians who want to deepen their impact, strengthen their collaboration with teaching staff and make the library central to the school’s reading culture.

About me

I’m a literacy consultant and school improvement specialist with eighteen years’ experience as an English teacher and leader in secondary schools. Get Them Reading grew from my belief that reading for pleasure should not be left to chance. Every school can build a culture where students read – but it takes the right strategy, the right support and a sustained commitment. That is what I provide.

18 years as an English teacher and leader

Masters in Children’s Literature

Experienced keynote speaker and presenter

Literacy specialist working with secondary schools across the UK

Learn More

I hold a Masters in Children’s Literature and am an avid reader of children’s and young adult fiction, which I write and post about regularly. This deep knowledge of the books young people love – and the ones they should discover – is central to everything I do.

During my time working in education, I have worked in leadership positions in four different secondary schools. My experience also extends to other educational organisations, where I have led on delivering professional development to staff in primary, secondary and international schools. I’ve also had the privilege of supporting schools in their curriculum development at whole-trust level. My work has been featured in publications such as the SSAT journal and I have delivered professional development to leaders and headteachers in North London and nationally, for the National Association of Headteachers.

About my approach

Who is Get Them Reading for?

I work with secondary schools – specifically with senior leaders, English departments and school librarians who are best placed to drive lasting change. Whether you’re just starting to think about reading for pleasure or looking to take your existing work to the next level, I can help.

What makes this different from other reading initiatives?

Unlike one-off events or short-term programmes, as a school improvement consultant, I focus on sustainable, long-term strategies that embed reading for pleasure into school culture. My goal is not to add to your workload – it’s to help you work smarter, with an approach that sticks.

Is your approach based on research?

Yes. All the strategies I use are grounded in current research around reading for pleasure and literacy development. Everything is evidence-informed – and always practical, so staff can implement it immediately.

Find out how I can support your school.

Book a free 15-minute call – no commitment, just a conversation about how I can help.

Book a free call

Testimonials

“Anna is passionate about her work, and compassionate with school leaders. The way that Anna structures her training means the impact lasts and her resources stay relevant.”

Leah StewartSchool and Trust Partnerships at Lyfta Education

“Anna is a true expert in Reading for Pleasure and wider reading development and a joy to work with – professional, passionate, and consistently inspiring. Her commitment to raising reading standards and fostering a genuine love of reading in young people is evident in everything she does.”

Beatrix SimpsonSenior School Improvement Advisor, Enfield

“Working with Anna has made me a better educator- and I know I’m not alone in saying that! She brings a research-informed, student-centred approach to everything she does, and has a genuine gift for facilitating professional lerning that is both reflective and action-oriented’

Dr Stephanie HillMiddlesex University, Dubai

Anna Szpakowska Literacy consultant, educator and speaker