Various sociological frameworks strongly suggest that recent changes to the English literature GCSE syllabus content will have a detrimental effect on those individuals who come from an environment with few sources of educationally exchangeable literary and linguistic cultural capital. In an attempt to provide a more sociological position from which to understand the situation, this article attempts to correlate a number of these frameworks, concluding that although more research would be necessary to reach a definitive conclusion, it is difficult to see how the recent GCSE changes will help (relatively speaking) those from an environment lacking in such capitals. It also suggests that perhaps a more vigorous system of policy surveillance is necessary if any future changes are to be properly and effectively addressed by the stakeholders in question.