Required Readings in British Schools...?

[Sirius]

I was wondering works of literature students (ages 14 - 18) in Britain are required to read in school. While I teach literature from all parts of the world, my concern is the literature of Britain and the literature of the United States.

Thanks!

 

[Frances999]

There are no formal requirements, and the specific texts pupils will read will be dependent upon the examination board their school has chosen to follow. Typical examples of GCSE English Literature texts would include Brave New World, Of Mice and Men, Educating Rita, Journey's End, An Inspector Calls, Lord of the Flies, To Kill a Mockingbird, Animal Farm, Pride and Prejudice, An Inspector Calls and a Shakespeare play.

I used to be an English teacher and worked on some outreach programs at universities in England, so let me know if you have any questions.

 

[wideeyes]

My sister at 18 is still at school and in English Literature is studying The Great Gatsby, One Flew over the Cuckoo's nest, King Lear, John Donne, Coleridge and Keats. Other classes at her school may be doing different texts, as the exam boards offers a few choices of text for different modules.

 

[Graeme]

I did To Kill a Mockingbird , Romeo and Juliet , and Northanger Abbey for my O level, but that was over twenty years ago.

 

[Missish]

At GCSE, I did Of Mice and Men and An Inspector Calls. Oh, and Macbeth.

It depends on the exam board and the teacher. Some people in the other class, on the same exam board, did different texts to me.

 

[irongirlof12]

Brave New World, Of Mice and Men, Educating Rita, Journey's End, An Inspector Calls, Lord of the Flies, To Kill a Mockingbird, Animal Farm, Pride and Prejudice, An Inspector Calls and a Shakespeare play .

ahhh, brings back some great memories, I loved reading most of the above.

 

[fizz13]

I had Romeo and Juliet, Far From The Madding Crowd, A Midsummer Nights Dream, To Kill A Mockingbird, Pride and Prejudice, and The Go-Between.

 

[emily1982]

I did Romeo and Juliet for SATS and Lord of the Flies and Macbeth for GSCE's and then 2 poems from the Anthology.

 

[wideeyes]

For GCSE i did Lord of the Flies, Merchant of Venice, hobson's choice, Educating Rita, Seamus Heaney, and Sherlock Holmes.

For A Level I did Jane Eyre, Hamlet, Evil Cradling and Wife of Bath.

For my English degree I do about 40-50 books a year.

 

[wideeyes]

For GCSE i did Lord of the Flies, Merchant of Venice, hobson's choice, Educating Rita, Seamus Heaney, and Sherlock Holmes.

For A Level I did Jane Eyre, Hamlet, Evil Cradling and Wife of Bath.(my sisters text are much better than what I did)

For my English degree I do about 40-50 books a year.

 

[Sirius]

Thanks for the responses. I'm thinking about revamping our curriculum and was looking for input from different places. I had no idea that To Kill a Mockingbird (one of the best in my opinion) was such a popular novel abroad. Our students don't have a state mandated test beyond the 10th grade (age 15) in English, and that test really only addresses reading comprehension and grammar. So, at the upper levels, I am free to teach almost anything as long as it has been approved by the state or local school board. 11th grade is American Literature. Some of the major works I cover are The Scarlet Letter, The Crucible, Huckleberry Finn, and The Awakening. 12th grade is British Literature. Some of the major works I cover are Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, Macbeth, Pygmalion, and Wuthering Heights. You've given me some great ideas - thanks!

One thing - what's the difference between A-Level, GCSE, and SATS?

 

[wideeyes]

SATS are at age 7, 11, 14, GCSE are the general school leavers exam qualifications at 16, if the student decided to stay on at school till 18 they then take A levels which are adavanced qualifications needed to go to University.

 

[Frances999]

It's interesting that the test at 15 only includes reading comprehension and grammar. Unless it has changed recently, the SAT test taken by 14 year olds in the UK must include study of a Shakespeare play.

SATs are taken by children at ages 6/7 (Reading, Writing, Maths), 10/11 (Reading, Writing, Maths & Science) and 13/14 (English, Maths & Science). They are national curriculum examinations which are compulsory within the state sector (some private schools choose to set their own end-year exams).

GCSEs are compulsory examinations taken at ages 15/16 during the final two years of secondary school. They are a two-year course with the exams being taken at the end of the second year. Typically, students will study for between 8 and 12 GCSE examinations - English Language and Math are compulsory subjects, otherwise there is a choice (although some state and most private schools make English Literature and French compulsory, too). Religious Studies and ICTare compulsory at state schools, but not private schools.

After GCSEs students can continue with education by enrolling at a sixth-form or college to complete AS exams, followed by A2 exams (AS+A2=A Level). Students typically study 3 or 4 subjects and have a choice between all major disciplines. A-Levels are the "currency" for most university/degree courses.

 

[Goofyish]

I remember having to read The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men - both extremely boring

 

[Frances999]

I remember having to read The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men - both extremely boring

How can you say such a thing, Tim?! Steinbeck was a literary wonder and all I can think is that you couldn't have had a good teacher.....a good English teacher makes even the worst books interesting!

 

[tennisfan]

For SATS I did A Midsummer Nights Dream & for GCSE I did Of Mice & Men & War poetry for the exam & Romeo & Juliet for the coursework.

I loved reading Of Mice & Men & glad it was the Exam text.

I also remember reading Women in Black, Hobsons Choice, An Inspector Calls in the last 3 years at school as part of our curriculum.

 

[Goofyish]

It's interesting that the test at 15 only includes reading comprehension and grammar. Unless it has changed recently, the SAT test taken by 14 year olds in the UK must include study of a Shakespeare play.

SATs are taken by children at ages 6/7 (Reading, Writing, Maths), 10/11 (Reading, Writing, Maths & Science) and 13/14 (English, Maths & Science). They are national curriculum examinations which are compulsory within the state sector (some private schools choose to set their own end-year exams).

GCSEs are compulsory examinations taken at ages 15/16 during the final two years of secondary school. They are a two-year course with the exams being taken at the end of the second year. Typically, students will study for between 8 and 12 GCSE examinations - English Language and Math are compulsory subjects, otherwise there is a choice (although some state and most private schools make English Literature and French compulsory, too). Religious Studies and ICTare compulsory at state schools, but not private schools.

After GCSEs students can continue with education by enrolling at a sixth-form or college to complete AS exams, followed by A2 exams (AS+A2=A Level). Students typically study 3 or 4 subjects and have a choice between all major disciplines. A-Levels are the "currency" for most university/degree courses.

Our local secondary college is now offering BTEC courses in place of GCSEs in some subjects. They also offer various vocational courses (City and Guilds NVQ) as well such as hairdressing and leisure & tourism.