The effect of studying a text by an author of colour: the Lit in Colour Pioneers Pilot

This project researches the impact of studying a text by an author of colour, utilising access granted by the Edexcel Lit in Colour Pioneers Pilot.

In 2019, Pearson introduced a new set of diverse set texts to their Pearson Edexcel English Literature GCSE. The Lit in Colour Pioneers Pilot offered an opportunity to alleviate the barriers of time, money, knowledge and confidence in order to support teachers and schools to change their set texts, increasing the number of students who would study a text by an author of colour for their GCSE examination.

The Lit in Colour Pioneers Pilot programme presented an unprecedented chance to examine the effects of studying a text by an author of colour in the UK. It is important to have empirical data to support the principle of diversifying the curriculum in this way, because this helps to drive change in policy, and to reassure those who want to switch to a text by an author of colour, but who might be worried about the impact.

Read the full report