Teaching English Literature 16-19
by Carol Atherton, Andrew Green and Gary Snapper

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'This new book represents a major step forward in the teaching of English Literature at 16-19... Principled, persuasive and packed with great teaching ideas... an essential handbook for anyone teaching English in the sixth form today'
Sean McEvoy, Varndean Sixth Form College, Brighton, author of Shakespeare: the Basics (Routledge).

'Written by a ‘dream team’ of people involved in the 16-19 curriculum ... this outstanding book ... will help students develop independent learning, and bridge the gap between secondary education and university study.'
Robert Eaglestone, Professor of Literature and Contemporary Thought, Royal Holloway Univresity of London. author of Doing English (Routledge).

It has been 24 years since the last guide to teaching literature in the sixth form (Brown and Gifford: Teaching A Level Literature: A Student-Centred Approach, 1989) was published. This book is intended to fill that gap and to build on the influential ideas contained in Brown and Gifford's 1989 book. With chapters on teaching poetry, the novel, drama, theory, context and writing, the book attempts to provide a comprehensive vision for the teaching of advanced English literature in schools and colleges in the 21st century.

Teaching and Workshops

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    "Outstanding! Gary has made teaching the course appear much more achievable and accessible. The resources provided are high quality and will be of great use to me. It was also a great pleasure to have been led by someone who is clearly very passionate and knowledgeable."

  "Fantastic workshop! It reminded me of why I teach!"

I was Head of English at Impington Village College, Cambridge until 2001, where I taught 11-18 English, including A Level Literature, A Level Language and IB Literature. I am now a Lecturer in English Education, teaching PGCE and Masters Level students in English at Oxford University Department of Education.
      Additionally, I am  a freelance teacher trainer and consultant, specialising in Sixth Form English. I offer in-service training for teachers, and workshops for A Level and I.B. students, initial teacher trainees (PGCE, GTP, etc.), and university English departments.
   
For full details about my workshops and INSET sessions, see the 'Teaching and Workshops' page of this site, here.
   
The picture above shows my A Level students from Cheney School, Oxford, at a performance at Shakespeare's Globe. 

Research and Writing

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I am a writer and researcher in the area of Post-16 English. Having completed my PhD at the Institute of Education in London, I am now a Curriculum Tutor in English at Oxford University.
    My research interests are pedagogy and curriculum in Sixth Form and HE English, the connections between school and university English, and the history and philosophy of the subject/discipline.
    I am co-author, with Andrew Green and Carol Atherton, of Teaching English Literature 16-19, published in 2013 by Routledge and NATE, and of the textbook for AQA's A Level English Literature Course (Spec B), to be published by CUP in 2015.

For full details, see the 'Research and Writing' page of this site, here.
   

NATE and Teaching English

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I am the editor of Teaching English, the professional journal and magazine of the National Association for the Teaching of English (NATE). The magazine is published three times a year as part of the membership subscription to NATE, and is also available in most university libraries.
    NATE is the professional association for English teachers in schools in the UK, dedicated to promoting good practice in English teaching. I've been a member of NATE since I started teaching in 1989, and am currently a member of its management committee and Post-16 Committee.

For full details, see the 'NATE and Teaching English' page of this site, here.