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| English lit 'shunned by students' | English lit 'shunned by students' |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| More than a quarter of teenagers in England are not taking English literature GCSE, according to figures published by the Conservatives. | |
| About 37% of poorer students - those entitled to free school meals - did not sit the exam in 2008. | About 37% of poorer students - those entitled to free school meals - did not sit the exam in 2008. |
| Overall 28% of pupils did not sit the GCSE exam in 2008 - up a fifth from the 23% who did not do it five years ago. | Overall 28% of pupils did not sit the GCSE exam in 2008 - up a fifth from the 23% who did not do it five years ago. |
| But while the number fell at maintained schools, it rose at independent ones. The Tories said it was "shocking". | But while the number fell at maintained schools, it rose at independent ones. The Tories said it was "shocking". |
| Conservative schools spokesman, Michael Gove expressed concern that poorer pupils in particular were missing out on the country's cultural heritage. | Conservative schools spokesman, Michael Gove expressed concern that poorer pupils in particular were missing out on the country's cultural heritage. |
| The figures suggest a growing social gap in pupils learning about literature - as 30% of pupils who had free school meals did not sit the exam five years ago, and that figure has increased to 37%. | The figures suggest a growing social gap in pupils learning about literature - as 30% of pupils who had free school meals did not sit the exam five years ago, and that figure has increased to 37%. |
| 'Essential education' | 'Essential education' |
| In contrast, 19% of pupils not on free school meals did not take English literature GCSE last year, up from 14% in 2003. | In contrast, 19% of pupils not on free school meals did not take English literature GCSE last year, up from 14% in 2003. |
| However while the number of students doing the exam at maintained schools fell from 481,440 in 2003 to 472,575 in 2008, more youngsters are taking the subject at independent schools. | However while the number of students doing the exam at maintained schools fell from 481,440 in 2003 to 472,575 in 2008, more youngsters are taking the subject at independent schools. |
| There was an increase from 35,458 students in 2003 to 38,933 in 2008. | There was an increase from 35,458 students in 2003 to 38,933 in 2008. |
| Overall 185,789 15-year-olds did not do the subject in 2008, from a total cohort of 653,808 pupils. | Overall 185,789 15-year-olds did not do the subject in 2008, from a total cohort of 653,808 pupils. |
| "An understanding and knowledge of English literature is something we would all consider an essential part of education to GCSE level for all pupils," said Mr Gove. | "An understanding and knowledge of English literature is something we would all consider an essential part of education to GCSE level for all pupils," said Mr Gove. |
| "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." | "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." |
| Schools Minister Jim Knight said: "Michael Gove is talking nonsense." | Schools Minister Jim Knight said: "Michael Gove is talking nonsense." |
| "Both the English and English literature GCSEs include Shakespeare and other great works of English literature so it's wrong to say that pupils are not reading the classics. | "Both the English and English literature GCSEs include Shakespeare and other great works of English literature so it's wrong to say that pupils are not reading the classics. |
| "Last year 96% of pupils sat an exam that included English literature and more young people are achieving the higher grades in English each year," said Mr Knight. | "Last year 96% of pupils sat an exam that included English literature and more young people are achieving the higher grades in English each year," said Mr Knight. |
| Mary Bousted, leader of the ATL teachers' union, has previously warned that English as a subject is being replaced by "literacy" - with pupils reading extracts rather than complete books. | Mary Bousted, leader of the ATL teachers' union, has previously warned that English as a subject is being replaced by "literacy" - with pupils reading extracts rather than complete books. |
| "I don't want to get misty eyed about the past, but it is clear to me that something important has been lost - for both teachers and taught," she said. | "I don't want to get misty eyed about the past, but it is clear to me that something important has been lost - for both teachers and taught," she said. |
| "And that is the heart of the subject - the subject which is dear to my heart - the subject of English." | "And that is the heart of the subject - the subject which is dear to my heart - the subject of English." |
| There have also been fears that the types of subjects and qualifications taken by pupils can be divided by social background - such as modern languages becoming increasingly dominated by pupils in independent schools. | There have also been fears that the types of subjects and qualifications taken by pupils can be divided by social background - such as modern languages becoming increasingly dominated by pupils in independent schools. |