Harry Potter is still an unchallenged favourite among primary and secondary pupils, a new study reveals.

Keith Topping, professor of education and social research at the University of Dundee, drew up a list of the most-read books over the last academic year, alongside a separate list of pupils’ favourite titles.

Primary pupils’ favourite book of the year was The Midnight Gang, by comedian-turned-author David Walliams.

Books from JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series occupy seven of the remaining top-10 slots. The only other two authors to make primary pupils’ list of favourites are Jacqueline Wilson and Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

By contrast, the most-read books in primary schools include four titles by Roald Dahl, four by Jeff Kinney and two by David Walliams.

Deathly Hallows

There was a significant amount of overlap between primary and secondary pupils’ most-read titles. Gangsta Granny, by David Walliams, was the most popular title among secondary pupils.

Walliams appeared three times on the list of secondary pupils’ most-read titles. The remaining seven novels on the secondary list were all by Jeff Kinney.

Meanwhile, the final novel in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, emerged as secondary pupils’ favourite book, according to the research data, compiled by online assessment provider Renaissance. It beat Girl Online, by vlogger Zoella - last year’s favourite book among secondary pupils - into second place. 

Three other Harry Potter titles appeared on secondary pupils’ list of favourites this year. 

Favourite books

Most-popular books

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