The DfE says creative writing is “more skills-based than knowledge-based” and – here come da crunch – it’s too difficult “to secure valid assessment”. Ah. It’s not quite measurable – which means it can’t exist...

“Ofqual has banned Creative Writing from English A level,” Michael Rosen twitters. Another of his rueful, comic fantasies?

“I propose banning art from Art,” he twitters on. Why not indeed? It has a pleasing comic logic. Why not also ban music from Music, a ball from Football, plays from Drama – and education from schools? Couldn’t happen, could it? Not to Creative Writing, surely the very heart of English?

Well, Professor Rosen isn’t quite joking.

Ofqual did confirm last week that the Creative Writing A level will be axed by 2017, just four years after it was introduced in 2013. Eh?

I thought “creativity” was in fashion, a groovy buzzword for government wheezes, school prospectuses, mission statements, the CBI, CEOs, and headteachers on open evenings. It elicits much sanctimonious nodding.

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