For the first time in history, a British prime minister has studied for an English degree. While not all of his 58 predecessors attended university, those who did often chose subjects like history, classics, or more recently, philosophy, politics, and economics. However, reading fiction is increasingly seen as a valuable skill, offering insight into human behavior and the world around us. Novels help build empathy, encourage emotional understanding, and can be both entertaining and joyful. The creative industries, which include publishing and the arts, contribute about £145.8 billion to the UK economy each year, underscoring the importance of reading and literature. Despite this, there has been a noticeable drop in the number of children reading for pleasure in recent years. In response, the National Literacy Trust has declared 2026 as the National Year of Reading, following a small rise in the percentage of eight-to-18-year-olds who enjoy reading in their free time. This increase brings the figure up from a 20-year low of 32.7% in 2025 to 36.1% in 2026, showing some progress but also highlighting the ongoing challenge. The current GCSE English curriculum is under scrutiny, with concerns that the books chosen for study may not inspire a love of reading in students. Since the introduction of GCSEs in 1986, four main examination boards have operated in England and Wales, and the selection of books taught in schools has remained largely consistent. A 2025 report by the educational charity End Sexism in Schools, titled "Manopolies," found that 76% of students study "An Inspector Calls" by J.B. Priestley for their modern text, even though 21 other modern texts are available. Similarly, 93% of students study either "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens or "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson for their 19th-century novel, despite nine other options being available. Only 5% of students in England and Wales study a novel written by a woman. Although the exam boards include a range of modern works by female authors, such as Kit de Waal, Tanika Gupta, and Jeanette Winterson, schools often avoid changing the texts they teach due to costs and the extra work involved. Exam boards also avoid removing popular texts to prevent financial losses and development costs. As a result, there are growing calls for the Department for Education to require regular updates to the list of set texts and to ensure that students are exposed to a wider range of literature that better reflects the diversity of society. To inspire a greater interest in fiction among young readers, several authors and educators have suggested alternative texts. These include "The Trees" by Percival Everett, "Stories of Your Life and Others" by Ted Chiang, and "Random" by Debbie Tucker Green, among others. These books are recommended for their ability to engage students in meaningful discussions and for reflecting a broader range of experiences and perspectives.