NUT: Short-sighted to reject diploma

The National Union of Teachers congratulated students and teachers after today's A-level results indicated another rise in the pass rate, but called for reform of the system.

General secretary Steve Sinnott said the "outstanding results" were down to hard work, and claims the exams were getting easier were false.

"The odds of getting a grade A at A-level are only slightly better than one in five – hardly the sure fire bet the critics would have us believe," he said.

He welcomed the improvement in boys' performance in particular, and the higher number of people taking science, Maths and foreign languages.

But he said there was need for reform of the system, "not as a result of any dumbing down but because of the changing demands of modern society". And it was "very short-sighted" for Lord Adonis to rule out the replacing GCSEs and A-levels with a diploma.