In a recent episode of Eye on Education on Dubai Eye 103.8, Susannah Bull, Head of Secondary English at Horizon International School, joined the conversation on how to build a love of reading in a way that feels realistic for students and families. She reflected on how reading is not just a skill, but something shaped by confidence, identity and habit, and how early beliefs like “I’m not a reader” can follow a child for years if they are not gently challenged.

Susannah shared that one of the most effective starting points for reluctant readers is simple: help them find the right book. She explained that students who say they do not like reading often just have not found their genre yet, and that schools can support by offering shorter, accessible texts with content that still feels age appropriate. This allows students to finish a book, feel that sense of achievement, and begin to build momentum without the pressure of tackling a long novel straight away.

The discussion also looked at what “counts” as reading. Susannah pushed back on any snobbery around formats, noting that if a student is choosing to read a graphic novel, non fiction, or any text they are genuinely interested in, that is a positive step. The priority is building the habit and getting students reading consistently, even if it starts with ten minutes a day.

Susannah also spoke about how schools can help students connect with challenging texts on the curriculum. While some GCSE staples remain, she described how Key Stage 3 offers more flexibility to make reading feel dynamic and relevant through engaging class texts and drama based approaches. She gave the example of teaching poetry by starting with the human story and the relationships first, so students are hooked by the characters and themes before they even look at the language on the page.

To bring it back to home routines, Susannah shared a practical takeaway for families: model reading, and read together. She suggested setting up a simple rhythm where parents and children read in parallel, choose a book the child is interested in, then come together to chat about a few chapters. Small routines like this can make reading feel shared rather than enforced, and help students see books as something they can enjoy, not something they are judged on.

Watch the full interview below.