In tandem with the launch of the book Dramatic Writing Masterclasses: Key Advice from the Industry Masters, a petition has been started to save the Creative Writing A level module.
The Creative Writing AS/A Level is due to finish this year because AQA's submission to administer Creative Writing has been turned down by the Department for Education.
Jennifer Tuckett, course leader of the MA Dramatic Writing at Drama Central London at Central Saint Martins, said, “if writing is a chance to reflect on who we were, who we are and who we can be, it is important anyone has a chance to pursue this career and become a writer.
"By removing the opportunity to consider this subject for A level, you are then guiding students away from considering this career path later on which is then limiting the diversity of who writers are and making it more likely the same kinds of people will be the ones who become writers.
"This is why the creative writing A level is so important—it has been shown that the subjects we study at school lead to the subjects we consider for university and/or careers then, when we become parents, our own choices influence the choices we guide our children make”.
Dramatic Writing Masterclasses is the first publication from the MA Dramatic Writing at Drama Centre London at Central Saint Martins with Oberon Books.
This title forms part of a new series of books giving advice to those considering becoming a writer on how to write dramatic writing and finding their way in the industry.
Contributors to this first book include Ola Animashawun, founder of the Royal Court Theatre’s Young Writers Programme, Fin Kennedy, winner of the first Fringe First award ever awarded to a schools production and artistic director of Tamasha Theatre Company, Kate Rowland, founder of BBC Writersroom, Philip Shelley, instigator of the Channel 4 screenwriting course, Steve Winter, director of the Kevin Spacey Foundation and co-creator of the Old Vic New Voices 24 Hour Plays, and John Yorke, creator of the BBC Writers Academy and former Head of Channel 4 Drama and Controller of BBC Drama Production.
The petition is accompanied by a survey on dramatic writing training; the outcomes will be announced at London Writer’s Week.