He said: “Being well-read and able to discuss novels in a group is key to getting a place at a good university, especially for English students.
“I think we’ve got a great group of over 20 students this year. They’re intelligent and have huge enthusiasm for contemporary literature.”
The first book the group will discuss is The Invention of Everything Else by Samantha Hunt. When Mr Tatham contacted the author in America, she was so pleased that her book was on the reading list that she not only gave him her endorsement but even suggested some talking points for the group's first meeting!