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Watchdog to tackle exam standards Watchdog to tackle exam standards
(39 minutes later)
The exam system in England is to be put in the hands of an independent watchdog to counter criticism that GCSEs and A-levels are getting easier.The exam system in England is to be put in the hands of an independent watchdog to counter criticism that GCSEs and A-levels are getting easier.
The body will be split from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, Education Secretary Ed Balls is to announce at Labour's conference.The body will be split from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, Education Secretary Ed Balls is to announce at Labour's conference.
He will say he wants pupils, parents and employers to have confidence in exam standards being maintained. He told the BBC he wanted to end the annual debate about exam standards being "dumbed down".
He is also due to unveil plans to boost literacy and numeracy. Mr Balls is also unveiling plans to boost literacy and numeracy.
Proposals include adding a new "every child a writer" programme. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was time to end the "sterile dumbing-down debate", with young people told every summer that their exam results were not "worth what they used to be".
It will run alongside existing reading and maths schemes to ensure all primary school pupils learn to write and spell. It was vital to separate the roles of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, which currently sets the national curriculum, sets tests and regulates exams, he said.
In his keynote speech at the conference on Wednesday, Mr Balls will also restate the government's plans to raise the school leaving age to 18, crackdown on cyber bullying, boost teachers' authority and support parents. 'Confidence'
End bullying Mr Balls added: "All the evidence I have is that standards have been maintained and the reason why, therefore, results are rising is because of the hard work of teachers and young people.
Mr Balls will say it is time to end the "sterile debate about dumbing down". "But to give employers, parents and young people themselves the confidence that we are maintaining standards, I believe this independent regulator will give that credibility and that assurance so we can get on and celebrate the achievements of our young people."
"I want to end young people being told that the GCSE or A-level grades they are proud of aren't worth what they used to be," he will say. CONFERENCE AGENDA 0945 - 1245 BSTEuropean Labour Party speakerEducation and skills: Ed Balls and John Denham Co-op speaker: Gareth Thomas International guest speaker
"I want parents, universities, employers and young people themselves to be confident that exam standards are being maintained." 1415 - 1730 BSTQ&A: Gordon Brown Crime and justiceCitizenship and equalitiesHousing, environment and rural affairsEnergyTransport class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7013705.stm">Day at-a-glance
He will insist new diplomas for 14 to 19 year olds will "provide for the first time, high-quality academic and vocational training that can compete with the best qualifications". The Conservatives welcomed the announcement, with shadow education secretary Michael Gove saying: "It is quite right to break up the QCA and separate the role of regulator from its other functions.
Mr Brown will take questions from delegates "I am glad that Ed Balls has adopted a policy we have been advocating for many years.
On bullying, he will tell delegates: "No child in 21st century Britain should go to school in fear or be prevented from learning because of their race, their disability or their sexuality. "The key test for him, however, is to ensure that exam standards are robust by global standards and that we reverse the trend that has seen us falling behind our international competitors."
"So I ask all parents, teachers and young people across Britain to join us in our new campaign. No child, and no teacher too, subject to bullying in the classroom or after school. QCA chief executive Ken Boston said: "This is a very welcome development, and the logical next step along the path QCA has been advocating."
"No cyber bullying on mobile phones, no homophobic bullying in the playground." 'Gamble'
He will say that teachers should be given the authority and support needed to get on with their jobs and will be given powers to tackle truancy and enforce discipline. Speaking on Today, Mr Balls, a close ally of Gordon Brown, suggested the prime minister was mulling over whether to call an election this autumn or wait until later.
Turning to parents, he will say they need more support in the job of bringing up children. He said: "I think Gordon Brown will be looking very carefully at the events of this week."
Brown questions Mr Balls added: "It's a very interesting question as to where the gamble really lies."
Mr Balls will promise greater efforts to tackle the causes of youth crime, more early intervention to help vulnerable families and more help for children in care or needing speech and language therapy. But Mr Brown's "priority" was getting on with the job of prime minister, he said,
Later, Prime Minister Gordon Brown will make his second set-piece appearance when he faces questions from Labour delegates. Mr Balls' comments follow speculation about the prospect of an election in October or November, and come amid increasingly favourable opinion polls for Mr Brown.
The session is designed to give ordinary party members the opportunity to quiz him about his beliefs and key policies. Later, the prime minister will make his second set-piece appearance when he faces questions from Labour delegates.
But it is possible he may be asked to finally clear up the mystery of when he will be calling the next general election - particularly in the wake of the latest poll suggesting he has an 11-point lead over the Tories.
It is widely believed Mr Brown is still toying with the possibility of calling a snap autumn poll and, in the wake of his speech on Monday and his continuing poll showing, odds have shortened.
But the prime minister is not ready to reveal his intentions yet and is expected to keep a close eye on the polls and the Conservative conference in Blackpool next week before finally coming to a decision.