Many graduates will return home for good in search of work and find themselves facing up to the grim reality of unemployment, a term synonymous with notions of failure and despair, and about as far removed from the joy of a graduation ceremony as you can get.

In these expensive, jobless times it would be stupid to undertake three years of study to get a first class certificate valid only for bohemian coffee shops and bars. "You'll need a good knowledge of postmodernism to chat with the clientele," head baristas will say.

For non-English literature prodigies, whom Shakespeare was forced upon in secondary school, there should be some thought put in for making room for a wider range of texts who might appeal to a modern age of students. When Shakespeare's work is so deeply embedded in our culture, they've got nothing to worry about, he's sure to get to us anyway.

I teach English Literature A Level. My Year 13 students this year are tackling a variety of texts including Enduring Love by Ian McEwan, Hamlet and an anthology of poetry that includes work from Petrarch to Duffy, Browning to Angelou.