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Major changes to A-levels planned Shake-up of A-levels confirmed by Gove
(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.  
The overhaul will mean AS-level papers will not count towards a full A-level but will be stand-alone qualifications. Education Secretary Michael Gove has confirmed changes to A-levels in England that will mean pupils will take exams at the end of two-year courses.
There will also be a bigger role for universities in monitoring the content of A-levels. Pupils are expected to being the new A-level courses from autumn 2015.
In a letter to exam regulator Ofqual, Mr Gove says A-levels do not provide the solid foundation students need. AS-levels will remain, but as a standalone exam, and leading universities will play a bigger role in maintaining standards.
Labour accused the education secretary of turning the clock back and narrowing young people's options.
Head teachers' leader Brian Lightman said: "This is a classic case of fixing something that isn't broken."
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 time taking exams and too little time thinking more deeply about their subject. In a letter to exam regulator Ofqual, Mr Gove says A-levels in their current form do not provide the solid foundation students need.
"The modular nature of the qualification and repeated assessment windows have contributed to many students not developing deep understanding or the necessary skills to make connections between topics," writes Mr Gove.
'Bite-sized''Bite-sized'
So what he describes as "bite-sized" units will be scrapped, with the qualification returning to exams taken at the end of the two-year course. From 2015 what Mr Gove describes as "bite-sized" units will be scrapped, with the qualification returning to exams taken at the end of the two-year course.
This confirms the principles that will underpin changes to A-levels in England.This confirms the principles that will underpin changes to A-levels in England.
Exams will be taken at the end of two-year, non-modular courses; there will be a more involvement from universities in maintaining standards and the AS-level will become a standalone exam taken either in either one or two years.Exams will be taken at the end of two-year, non-modular courses; there will be a more involvement from universities in maintaining standards and the AS-level will become a standalone exam taken either in either one or two years.
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.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 that this gold standard qualification will return to an all-or-nothing set of exams at the end of the course.It means that 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 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 about involvement. It remains to be seen to what extent universities will engage with policing the new exams - they have been lukewarm about direct involvement.
If Wales and Northern Ireland decline to follow, it will also mark a further fragmentation in the UK's exam system.If Wales and Northern Ireland decline to follow, it will also mark a further fragmentation in the UK's exam system.
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. There will be a bigger role for leading Russell Group universities in supervising the content - although this might take the form of organising committees of specialists, rather than taking direct responsibility.
All this would be introduced in England from 2015 - and is likely to prove controversial, says our correspondent. The introduction of an A-level Baccalaureate - closer to the International Baccalaureate - which had been discussed last year does not appear to part of this package.
Teaching unions say the changes to A-levels are being taken forward in a cavalier fashion on thin evidence. Stephen Twigg, Labour's shadow education secretary, rejected the argument for the changes.
Chris Keates, of the teaching union NASUWT, said such profound changes should not be contemplated lightly. "It's no wonder leading universities like Oxford and Cambridge say this is a mistake. We need to have more high quality options available at age 16, including all young people studying English and maths to 18."
Teachers' unions say the changes to A-levels are being taken forward in a cavalier fashion based on thin evidence.
Chris Keates, leader of the teachers' union NASUWT, said such profound changes should not be contemplated lightly.
She said: "Rather than recycling the incoherent grumblings of a few isolated and unrepresentative academics, the secretary of state should take note of the fact that there has been no clamour for reform of A-levels from the greater part of the higher education sector and survey evidence has found little concern that A-levels fail to prepare learners for the demands of study at university level.She said: "Rather than recycling the incoherent grumblings of a few isolated and unrepresentative academics, the secretary of state should take note of the fact that there has been no clamour for reform of A-levels from the greater part of the higher education sector and survey evidence has found little concern that A-levels fail to prepare learners for the demands of study at university level.
"Employers have not identified A-levels as problematic."Employers have not identified A-levels as problematic.
"It should be a matter of grave concern to all that the development of A-level specifications is to be farmed out to a small group of elite universities.""It should be a matter of grave concern to all that the development of A-level specifications is to be farmed out to a small group of elite universities."
Stephen Twigg, Labour's shadow education secretary, accused the government of turning back the clock and narrowing the choice of students. The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said the decision flew in the face of overwhelming feedback from a recent consultation that found that the "current system needs tweaking but is broadly fit for purpose".
"It's no wonder leading universities like Oxford and Cambridge say this is a mistake. We need to have more high quality options available at age 16, including all young people studying English and maths to 18." ASCL's general secretary Brian Lightman said: "The argument that A-levels are not preparing students adequately for university is contradicted by the fact that one in six achieve first class honours - a three fold increase over the last 13 years."
It comes as protests grow about Mr Gove's plans to scrap GCSEs and replace them with English Baccalaureate Certificates (EBCs) from 2015. "It is disappointing that this has ignored the overwhelming views of the teaching profession, academics, employers and universities to retain the link between AS and A level. AS provides an opportunity for students to take a fourth subject and decide at the end of year 12 which three to specialise in.
The announcement 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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