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Major changes to A-levels planned Major changes to A-levels planned
(about 2 hours later)
Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced changes to A-levels in England to make them more rigorous and reduce the number of exams taken.Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced changes to A-levels in England to make them more rigorous and reduce the number of exams taken.
Under the reforms, AS level papers will not count towards a full A-level but will be stand-alone qualifications.Under the reforms, AS level papers will not count towards a full A-level but will be stand-alone qualifications.
There will also be a bigger role for universities in monitoring the content of the A-level.There will also be a bigger role for universities in monitoring the content of the A-level.
In a letter to exam regulator Ofqual, Mr Gove says A-levels do not provide the solid foundation students need.In a letter to exam regulator Ofqual, Mr Gove says A-levels do not provide the solid foundation students need.
Students in Scotland have a different exam system while the devolved governments in Wales and Northern Ireland will make their own decisions about whether to implement the changes to A-levels.Students in Scotland have a different exam system while the devolved governments in Wales and Northern Ireland will make their own decisions about whether to implement the changes to A-levels.
The BBC's education correspondent Luke Walton said Mr Gove is worried the modular structure of the course requires pupils to spend too much taking exams and too little time thinking more deeply about their subject.The BBC's education correspondent Luke Walton said Mr Gove is worried the modular structure of the course requires pupils to spend too much taking exams and too little time thinking more deeply about their subject.
'Bite-sized''Bite-sized'
So what he describes as "bite-sized" units will be scrapped, with the qualification returned to exams taken at the end of the two-year course.So what he describes as "bite-sized" units will be scrapped, with the qualification returned to exams taken at the end of the two-year course.
At the same time the AS level would no longer be a stepping stone exam that counts towards a full A-level but instead become a stand alone qualification.At the same time the AS level would no longer be a stepping stone exam that counts towards a full A-level but instead become a stand alone qualification.
The most selective Russell Group universities would also have a new role in supervising the content of A-levels, ensuring they are sufficiently challenging.The most selective Russell Group universities would also have a new role in supervising the content of A-levels, ensuring they are sufficiently challenging.
All this would be introduced in England from 2015 - and is likely to prove controversial, says our correspondent.All this would be introduced in England from 2015 - and is likely to prove controversial, says our correspondent.
Labour's shadow education secretary has already accused the government of turning back the clock and narrowing the choice of students.Labour's shadow education secretary has already accused the government of turning back the clock and narrowing the choice of students.
It comes as protests grow about Mr Gove's plans to scrap GCSEs and replace them with English Baccalaureate Certificates (EBCs) from 2015.It comes as protests grow about Mr Gove's plans to scrap GCSEs and replace them with English Baccalaureate Certificates (EBCs) from 2015.
Campaigners will hand in a letter to No 10 Downing Street later urging Prime Minister David Cameron to rethink the pace of reforms of exams.Campaigners will hand in a letter to No 10 Downing Street later urging Prime Minister David Cameron to rethink the pace of reforms of exams.
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