Music GCSEs to get Britpop option

Students will write songs in the style of Noel Gallagher

GCSE music students could soon get a whole section of the curriculum devoted to mid-1990s "Britpop" bands like Oasis, Blur and Pulp.

If exam board Edexcel is successful in its plans, youngsters will be able to write songs in their style and offer critiques of hits of the era.

But a spokeswoman told BBC News that students would still have to devote 50% of their time to classical music.

Edexcel's plans are subject to approval by England's exams watchdog, the QCA.

'Don't talk back in anger'

Popular music, up until the present day, is already offered as part of the GCSE.

But such has been the demand that Edexcel wants Britpop - notable for its revival of British guitar bands - to become an option in its own right.

A spokeswoman said: "This does not change the requirements of the course. The classical component is still the same."

Britpop artists continually made the headlines during the 1990s, especially with the ongoing feud between Blur's Damon Albarn and Oasis' Gallagher brothers.

Other bands, such as Suede, Sleeper and Echobelly, also sold thousands of records.

The mid-1990s music scene became known as "Cool Britannia".

Such was its popularity that Noel Gallagher attended a drinks party hosted by Tony Blair shortly after he was elected as prime minister in 1997.

If Edexcel is successful, Britpop will be offered to students due to sit GCSE music exams in 2007.