In June, representatives from University English, the Institute of English Studies, The English Association (including Professor Helen Small) and Bloomsbury Press took part in a Parliamentary Breakfast hosted by the Rt. Hon. the Lord Baker of Dorking CH PC in order to launch the Charter for Change and discuss the importance of English language, literature, and creative writing in our schools, universities and public life.
The Charter for Change has four key aims:
- Celebrate the power of English
- Guarantee access to English for all
- Nourish the ecosystem
- Change the conversation
Read the full charter
The charter is being launched at a time when the study of English Language and Literature is declining in English schools and universities. As of 2025, figures for combined English A-level entries are at about 74% of their level in 2017, reflecting similar patterns for other arts and humanities A-levels. See the English Association website for further data on A Level entries.
Running alongside the Charter for Change, the #EnglishCreates campaign, led by University English, aims to champion, defend and expand access to the study of literature, language, and creative writing in English (in all their forms, regionalities and nationalities), particularly for year 12 and 13 students wanting to study English at university. You can browse their resources on the University English website: https://universityenglish.ac.uk/englishcreates/
