A lot of discussion lately about the reasons for the decline of Eng Lit A-level. Are the Gove curriculum & exam reforms to blame? I don't think so, because the decline of Eng Lit / the humanities more broadly is a global trend. More here. - ThreadSky

daisychristo.bsky.social • 102 days ago

A lot of discussion lately about the reasons for the decline of Eng Lit A-level.

Are the Gove curriculum & exam reforms to blame?

I don't think so, because the decline of Eng Lit / the humanities more broadly is a global trend.

More here.

Comments

terraglowach.bsky.social•101 days ago

I did a BEd in 🇨🇦 because I needed a student loan and therefore a guaranteed (high school teacher) job at the end of it; friends in same boat did STEM degrees. We saw humanities students as comically privileged or deluded: what possible job would they get with THAT?

terraglowach.bsky.social•101 days ago

However in the UK your social capital and what university you went to as well as the prestige of a lit A-level and degree holds more sway than in 🇨🇦, which surprised me. Interesting that this effect is dwindling, or perhaps just less accessible since 2010 tuition hike.

edsouthall.bsky.social•102 days ago

Great article. Lots to consider. I’m always a bit uncomfortable at how well maths has performed statistically over the last few years because, clearly, it comes at a cost

kerry-cahill.bsky.social•102 days ago

I also think there’s an argument here about how we teach English in secondary school putting students off. Lit & lang are often lumped in together, they are two subjects essentially. Two different qualifications. But given the same amount of time as 1 maths qualification. Plus…

kerry-cahill.bsky.social•102 days ago

We have so much to cover in that time - skills, reading whole novels, discussion, writing, understanding etc - that it can sometimes feel chaotic and that we “just have to get to the end”. Additionally, the KS3/4 curriculum can be boring. Especially if you are a lower ability reader and can’t engage

kerry-cahill.bsky.social•102 days ago

I think we need to overhaul ks4. Stop teaching lit & lang as “English”. Make literature an option subject (which might also put enjoyment back into reading for others), and rebrand language as “functional English” - teach kids how to use English in life! Can they read a contract, a recipe, a blog?

kerry-cahill.bsky.social•102 days ago

FWIW, I also think maths needs a similar overhaul. Have “functional maths” so kids learn about taxes, reading a payslip, interest rates, credit, budgeting. And then “maths” (algebra, statistics etc) for students who want to do it. Would also free up timetable time for creative subjects again too.

theheadslines.bsky.social•102 days ago

100% agree, Kerry. For some of the reasons you provide, we have just made Literature an option subject at GCSE at our school.

kerry-cahill.bsky.social•101 days ago

Ooh I’m interested in this. I’m tutoring a boy who is predicted 2 in lit and 2/3 in language. Wants to do an apprenticeship to be an electrician so we’ve agreed that 100% of my tutoring is “pass lang”! PCE last week and his teacher told mum he’s now a 3/4 in language. In just 8 weeks with me.

amosnic.bsky.social•101 days ago

📌

oliverbatch.bsky.social•95 days ago

It's pretty interesting. I suspect the problem isn't math vs. literature, though. Math and other sciences in pure forms are not very utilitarian!

People are taking math (and sciences) because it's pushed as a requirement for various careers (i.e. technology), where it's promptly never used again.

lucindapreston.bsky.social•102 days ago

As an English graduate who taught for 22 years, I fear your pessimism is well founded. 😞

zzypt.bsky.social•101 days ago

As a parent of teens it just seems to me English Lit and Humanities in general are less controllable. With STEM subjects you can predict your grade with incredible accuracy. With humanities you have to memorise large number of model answers and hope that’s what comes up.

cog1.bsky.social•101 days ago

That is the exact opposite of how you should approach a humanities qualification, and if that’s how students are being taught to approach them, they are being badly let down.

zzypt.bsky.social•101 days ago

If you want to get the best grade, it’s the best way. Not sure what else you’re supposed to do but memorise.

The main point is you can learn maths, then do endless past papers to test yourself and know exactly what grade you will get.

cog1.bsky.social•101 days ago

What you are supposed to do is learn the skills that enable you to think critically and then write essays using those skills. Memorising doesn’t come into it.

zzypt.bsky.social•101 days ago

Going back to my main point, that isn’t as controllable in getting the outcome you want. You learn the topic areas and question styles and memorise answers. Those are valuable skills, but GCSE is not designed for anything more. Maybe A levels are better, but at least with maths it’s controllable.

thinkcurriculum.bsky.social•102 days ago

Great article. I think there are also parallels in the shift from the study of Classics at HE level to that of PPE. The strive for utility over the appreciation of what civilisation has to teach us is a sad but all too real situation in many cases at the moment.

theheadslines.bsky.social•102 days ago

It’s a good piece, Daisy. Thank you. The idea that the 2015 curriculum reform has no part in this is one I would challenge though. English at KS4, with Lang and Lit together and with the changes that were made, is content heavy and dull for too many students. Neither are inspiring specifications.

fidsta77.bsky.social•101 days ago

An interesting blog Daisy. I enjoyed reading it. I studied English A level and at uni in the 90s… I was discouraged by family as they preferred me to pursue Science/Maths… but I just loved literature.. seen a huge decline in chn reading since technology has advanced (inc my own) and STEM profile

xris32.bsky.social•102 days ago

Great blog. I flagged up the success of STEM subjects in terms of PR for jobs in a recent debate. The jobs are out there for English but they aren’t transparent or publicised

mrenglishteach.bsky.social•102 days ago

I think there's a link here, Chris, to our recent discussions about inconsistent exam marking. Increasingly, I get the sense that students are concerned about dodgy marking affecting their A level results. That's assuming it doesn't prevent them reaching the entry criteria in the first place!

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