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St Joseph's Catholic Primary School and St Barts Multi-Academy Trust Triumph at National Read-Aloud Awards
Fonetti, the innovative read-aloud app transforming children's literacy through patented Automatic Speech Recognition technology (ASR), is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 National Read-Aloud Awards, revealed during the first month of the National Year of Reading 2026.
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Aylesham, has been awarded National Winner, whilst St Barts Multi-Academy Trust has received the prestigious Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) of the Year Award, recognising their exceptional commitment to fostering reading excellence amongst young learners.
The awards were presented by Fonetti Ambassador Clare Balding CBE.
The announcement comes at a critical time for children's literacy in the UK, where only one in three children aged 8 to 18 report enjoying reading "very much" or "quite a lot", and just one in five read daily. These alarming statistics underscore the vital importance of initiatives that make reading engaging and accessible for all children.
Fonetti's patented Automatic Speech Recognition technology provides real-time feedback as children read aloud, highlighting correctly read words and gently encouraging them when they stumble. With a vast library of age-appropriate books and a motivational rewards system, the app transforms reading into an engaging adventure. The Fonetti School Portal supports teachers by providing valuable insights into student progress, making it an invaluable tool for both home and classroom settings.
The National Read-Aloud Awards celebrate schools and educational institutions that have demonstrated outstanding dedication to improving literacy outcomes through innovative reading programmes. Both St Joseph's Catholic Primary School and St Barts Multi-Academy Trust have shown exemplary leadership in creating environments where reading flourishes, utilising technology and creative teaching methods to inspire young readers.
Kim Antoniou, Founder of Fonetti, commented: "We are absolutely delighted to celebrate these outstanding achievements in the first month of the National Year of Reading. St Joseph's Catholic Primary School's recognition as National Winner, alongside St Barts Multi-Academy Trust's MAT of the Year Award, demonstrates the incredible dedication to literacy and reading excellence across our schools."
St Barts Multi-Acadamy Trust said, “We are absolutely thrilled to have won the MAT of the Year National Read-Aloud Challenge 2025. Our St Bart’s pupils have greatly benefitted from their engagement in the challenge, reading almost nine thousand books over the summer. At St Bart’s reading is a key focus for us, ensuring that all children become confident, competent readers. We are so grateful to the NRAC and Fonetti for providing this platform for our pupils to further develop their reading fluency and confidence when reading aloud, alongside reading for pleasure. Our trophy will go on a tour of our SBMAT schools, including Regional Winners, Nantwich Primary Academy, so that all pupils, teachers, leaders and parents in our school communities can celebrate their success!”
Laura Hampton from St Joseph's added, "We are absolutely thrilled to have been crowned National Read Aloud winners, following our success as regional champions. This achievement is a tremendous moment for our whole community, and we could not be prouder of our pupils.
We entered the competition with a clear purpose: to find an exciting and meaningful way to keep our children engaged with reading over the summer break. In an age where so many distractions compete for their attention, we knew we needed something fresh, inspiring, and capable of igniting genuine enthusiasm. The Read Aloud project delivered exactly that."
The awards align perfectly with the National Year of Reading 2026, a UK-wide campaign aimed at reviving a culture of reading amongst children and young people. With declining reading enjoyment particularly affecting boys, where just 25% aged 8-18 express enjoyment in reading compared to 39% of girls, targeted interventions and recognition of excellence have never been more crucial.
Schools and Multi-Academy Trusts interested in learning more about how Fonetti can support their literacy programmes are encouraged to visit the Fonetti website (www.fonetti.com) or contact the team directly.