‘Crazy’ changes to GSCE English literature curriculum sparks online petition

A petition against “crazy” government changes to the GCSE English Literature curriculum has been launched at Donington’s Thomas Cowley High School.

Assistant headteacher Mary Meredith said: “Students in our current Year 9 will have to commit between 15 and 18 complex and challenging poems to memory so that they can ‘closely analyse’ them in an exam. So poetry learned parrot fashion will be the order of the day.

“The English teaching community, preoccupied by the loss of Of Mice and Men and To Kill a Mockingbird, has not made enough of a fuss about this. There needs to be a huge one though because this is crazy and most certainly the end of English Literature for all.”

The online petition requires 100,000 signatures to trigger a debate in the House of Commons.
To sign it visit https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/74359

more >

District needs better water infrastructure, meeting told

4 Sep 2026

Arrest warrant for man on suspended jail sentence who failed to attend court

4 Sep 2026

Two vehicle collision blocked Pinchbeck road

3 Sep 2026

Taxi driver carrying kids from school saw collision before fatal crash

3 Sep 2026

Pensioner (84) to spend rest of life behind bars after sexual assaults on two children

3 Sep 2026

Claim solar farm will cost area £76m

2 Sep 2026