Days numbered for A-levels, predicts exam chief
The head of the Government’s education watchdog Ofsted has predicted GCSEs and A-levels will be soon consigned to history.
With increasingly vociferous calls from schools and colleges to axe the traditional exams, David Bell said Education Secretary Ruth Kelly was poised to replace them with a new diploma.
But yesterday Ms Kelly pledged to retain the “gold standard” qualifications.
She said A-levels and GCSEs were “here to stay”.
In an interview in The Times , Mr Bell reflected: “I just wonder if this is a good example of where practice might outstrip policy. If you go to schools and colleges they are beginning to do more of the things that were envisaged.
“The Secretary of State has quite categorically said GCSE and A-level are there, but three years down the line how does the qualifications structure fit with the practice?”
Ken Boston, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority chief, earlier this month said A-levels would be replaced within the next 10 years by a new diploma system.
The Government has already rejected proposals set out by Sir Mike Tomlinson, ex-head of Ofsted, to adopt a diploma system covering both academic and vocational disciplines.
