A small consortium of independent schools in the South West has put together a linear GCE Level qualification in Creative Writing, which they have named the AFA (Apprentice of Fine Arts) in Creative Writing. They have a syllabus, are in the process of acquiring accreditation from UCAS, and will be launching the qualification for first teaching in September 2017. The course is based quite closely on the AQA AS/A2 course (indeed, AQA examiners gave guidance and advice on the writing of the specification), and is built around the pedagogy of the critical workshop, in which writers regularly give and receive constructive criticism on each other’s writing.
Several maintained sector schools have also been in touch to discuss launching the AFA in September 2017. The group, operating under the name The Writers’ Examination Board (WEB), is keen to acquire endorsement from as many individuals and institutions concerned with Creative Writing as possible, so as to keep alive the possibility of widening access to this syllabus across all sectors of the education system, regardless of Ofqual.
New Directions in Post-16 English 