Young writers can get on course to be creative
8:51am Friday 1st March 2013 in Local
A NEW A-level for aspiring authors and poets has been welcomed by a creative writing lecturer at the University of Bolton.
The creative writing A-level will be offered by the AQA exam board from September.
Dr Simon Holloway, from the university, described the move as “great” and to be welcomed by universities and academies.
Bolton Sixth Form College will be one of the colleges piloting the new qualification.
Dr Holloway said: “It is great to see the A-level in Creative Writing, much discussed in recent years, is to be finally offered this year.”
There are more than 700 different creative writing degrees on offer in the UK, but this will be the first time the subject has been offered at A-level.
Dr Holloway, who also organises the internationally renowned Great Writing conference, added: “Creative Writing has been taught as a subject in its own right in Higher Education for about 30 years.
“Any courses which encourage A-level students to be creative, and then examine that work critically, are to be welcomed.”
The new qualification has been developed in association with the National Association of Writers in Education, of which fellow University of Bolton lecturer, Anne Caldwell, is Programme Director.
The course will examine and teach different forms of writing, from poetry and prose to radio play scripts and short stories.
The AQA board says the subject will “complement but not overlap English Literature and Language study”.
The exam board added that the course will “allow aspiring writers to trace a route through school or college on to Higher Education and into professional practice.”
Dr Holloway believes creative writing can teach students other valuable skills and aid their academic development.
He said: “The study of Creative Writing at any level develops important, transferable skills.
“The new A-level will, hopefully, encourage more students to continue that development by studying Creative Writing in Higher Education.”
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