Balancing acts: Preparing students for university in the mixed-ability classroom

Abstract

This article addresses some of the concerns about whether A level English Literature offers an adequate preparation for the study of English at degree level. It explores the pressures of teaching English Literature at A level in mixed ability classrooms where the needs of all students - not just those who intend to study English at university - need to be met. It also surveys the difficulties that the current A level specifications present for teachers who must balance the desire to enthuse and inspire their students against the demands of a highly mechanistic educational system. © 2007 A B Academic Publishers.