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Major changes to A-levels planned Major changes to A-levels planned
(35 minutes 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.
This confirms the principles that will underpin changes to A-levels in England.
Much of this had already been heavily signposted in the past year - but it is clearer about a specific date, with the changes to be introduced in autumn 2015.
It means this gold standard qualification will return to an all-or-nothing set of exams at the end of the course.
It also means that apart from a stray AS-level, there will be no public exams in the lower sixth year - perhaps allowing it to return to its traditional status as a time for school plays, forming bands and writing bad poetry.
It remains to be seen to what extent universities intend to engage with policing the new exams - they have sometimes seemed lukewarm.
If Wales and Northern Ireland decline to follow, it will also mark a further fragmentation in the UK's exam system.
For schools in England, this will mean changes to A-levels introduced alongside the uprooting of GCSEs.
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.
Will the changes to A-levels in England affect you or your children? Share your comments with us using the form below.Will the changes to A-levels in England affect you or your children? Share your comments with us using the form below.