An English teacher campaigning against changes to GCSE guidelines is one step closer to meeting Government education chiefs.

Mary Stevens, an English teacher at Larkmead School, launched an online petition after reports classic US novels were to be removed from the national curriculum on the orders of Education Secretary Michael Gove.

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Michael Gove

The Abingdon mother-of-two met Oxford West and Abingdon MP Nicola Blackwood at the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday to discuss her campaign.

After the meeting Ms Blackwood said she will request a meeting with the Department of Education over the issue.

The petition has so far been supported by more than 63,000 people. It can be found at the website change.org