The examination board OCR has revealed that students will now be able to take an English Literature course which includes the tweets of columnist Caitlin Moran and Russell Brand's stance on drugs and drug law reform. These will be taught alongside more widely accepted texts of Shakespeare, Orwell and Bronte.
While some in the teaching profession have criticised the idea saying the it represents the dumbing down of English Literature, many have seen it as refreshing modernisation of the subject.
Paul Dodd, OCR director of reform, said "Our aim in creating the specification was to produce a course with a rich, diverse mix of content – including highly regarded contemporary texts as well as long-established works – that will inspire and engage a new generation of students. We are delighted that Ofqual has accredited this fresh and exciting new specification".
A victim of the disease himself, Brand's views on drug reform were put before a House of Commons select committee in 2012. He also makes regular video installments to his YouTube channel The Trews, in which he deconstructs the days current events in order to better explain the motives and messages at work.
Do you think refreshing the syllabus in this way is a good thing? Let us know in the comments below.
