Gove condemns "shocking" decline in English Literature GCSE

Michael Gove has highlighted “shocking” new figures that show that one in four sixteen-year olds are not sitting the GCSE English Literature exam.

186,000 pupils left school last year without taking any exam demonstrating proper knowledge of great works of literature – an increase of 20% in just five years.

Michael, the Shadow Children’s Secretary, slammed Gordon Brown for talking about promoting Britishness to our children while “the reality of what’s happening under Labour is very different”:

“An understanding and knowledge of English Literature is something we would all consider an essential part of education to GCSE level for all pupils. It is therefore shocking that the subject is in decline to the extent that more than one in four pupils does not even sit it at GCSE.”

The decline in the English Literature GCSE is sharpest amongst deprived pupils with almost two in five missing out, adding to the widening gap between the poorest children and the rest.

Michael stressed, “It is particularly concerning that it is the poorest students who are suffering most from this decline in English Literature. It is further proof that raising stands in our schools will have the greatest benefit for the most disadvantaged.”

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