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Popularity of English literature 'growing' at private schools

Posted on 29th April 2009

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The popularity of English literature is rising in independent schools, despite the subject seeing a decline in the state sector, it has emerged.

New figures obtained by the Conservatives indicate that 28 per cent of pupils in England did not take this subject at GCSE last year, up from 23 per cent in 2003.

But while interest in English literature dwindled in maintained schools, in the independent sector the opposite was found to be true, in a new sign that the gap between the two sectors may be widening.

The statistics indicated that while just under 36,000 private school students were taking the subject at GCSE in 2003, this rose to almost 39,000 in 2008.

This sits in stark comparison to figures from children on free school meals, 37 per cent of whom did not study English literature beyond the age of 14.

Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove described the new figures as "shocking".

Earlier this month, Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lectures, raised concerns that literacy is replacing English in schools.