Industry News
Concern over violent writings at GCSE English
Posted on 29th August 2007
Exam board Edexel has reported a "strong tendency" to write on violent themes in this year's GCSE English exam.
The Examiners Report stated much of the imaginative writing was violent and failed to show plot and character presentation. It said assassins featured strongly among pupils' work.
Ian McNeilly, of the National Association for the Teaching of English, told the Guardian teachers should be concerned when faced with "sickening" levels of violence.
"We have got enough assassins walking the streets, unfortunately, without giving them time in the classroom," he said.
David Cameron recently condemned levels of violence on the streets and in part blamed film and computer game directors who "push the boundaries of acceptable violence" and a music industry he claims exploits "black youth".
He made his comments in a speech at Brize Norton following the death of 11-year-old Rhys Jones in a shooting incident in Liverpool.