press brief 2: facts and figures

55% of British 5-year-olds arrive at school with inadequate language skills.
Approximately a quarter of British children leave school unable to read properly. Among young offenders that figure rises to two-thirds.
In the past six years the UK has fallen from 3rd to 19th in international literacy rankings (of participation and enjoyment).
Families are spending less time talking or eating together than ever before.
A recent study suggested that children spend 35 hours looking at screens each week and 35 minutes talking to his or her father.
England has fallen from 3rd to 18th place in 'reading literacy' with English 10-year-olds reading less, and enjoying reading less than 5 years ago. Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, November 2007

British children are the unhappiest in the developed world. UNICEF report 2007
Enjoyment of reading has a bigger impact on educational attainment than any other factor, including parental income and education. PISA study 2000
Stories develop children's language and motivate them to learn to read and write. They develop empathy and imagination and boost their self esteem.

Around a third of the BBC's Big Read Top 100 books were children's titles. Four children's titles featured in the nation's favourite 10 books, of which three were by Oxford authors.
Oxford has more famous children's authors, illustrators and publishers, past and present, than any other city of its size.

The UK is seen as one of the original homes of children's literature ... it is the fifth largest tourist destination in the world. Arts Council consultation paper
Oxford attracts more than 8m visitors a year and is the third most popular tourist destination in Britain.
Oxford - founded 1096 - is the oldest English-speaking university in the world.
Oxford and Oxfordshire include some of the most disadvantaged groups in the UK.

Story Museum