Reading Challenge
Four weeks. Four genres. One month of reading.
Each week of January, choose a genre and read from a curated shelf of classic books, directly online. Reading time is recorded automatically and ranked in two age groups.
Register for the challenge- Dates
- 1 – 31 January 2027
- Eligibility
- All ages, as individuals
- Format
- Online
- Recognition
- Certificate of completion
The Reading Challenge, step by step
- Step 01
Register before 1 January
Register free with your age group. Registration stays open throughout the month.
- Step 02
Choose one genre a week
At the start of each week, pick from six genres. It cannot be changed mid-week or repeated later.
- Step 03
Read online
The timer runs while a book is open on screen and pauses when you switch tabs or take a break.
- Step 04
Complete and be ranked
Read in all four weeks for a certificate. Rankings use total time read and books finished.
Weeks run Friday to Thursday
| Week | Dates | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 1 – 7 January | Your choice |
| Week 2 | 8 – 14 January | Your choice |
| Week 3 | 15 – 21 January | Your choice |
| Week 4 | 22 – 28 January | Your choice |
| Bonus | 29 – 31 January | Any shelf |
Classic books, all in the public domain
The same shelves for every age group.
Novel
Long-form stories of families, cities and whole lives.
Pride and Prejudice · Jane Eyre · Great Expectations · Little WomenFiction
Mysteries, adventures and other worlds; shorter, faster reads.
The Hound of the Baskervilles · The Time Machine · Treasure IslandSelf-help
Enduring advice on character, discipline and the use of time.
Meditations · As a Man Thinketh · How to Live on 24 Hours a DayHistory
How the world came to be, told by those who were close to it.
The Histories · A Short History of the WorldAutobiography
Remarkable lives, told in their own words.
The Story of My Life · The Autobiography of Benjamin FranklinChildren's books
Classics for younger readers, and for anyone who missed them.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland · Peter Pan · The Secret Garden
Rules
- One genre per week, chosen at the start of the week.
- A genre cannot be changed mid-week or chosen twice.
- Only time read online, while the book is on screen, counts.
- Everyone participates as an individual.
Recognition
- Certificate of completion for reading in all four weeks.
- Separate leaderboards for ages 12 and under, and 13 and over.
- Bonus-day reading counts towards the leaderboard.
- Awards for top readers in each group, to be announced.
Register for the challenge
Tell us which programme you are interested in. We will email you when your student account is ready and when each programme opens.