Last week news concerning the future of the GCSE examination was leaked to the media. Here at the HA we were as surprised by the announcements as members of Mr Gove's own party. The media has pounced on the leak and changes creating a storm of interest and further confusion. In this piece we have sought to pull out the real claims and intentions as they were presented by the Secretary of State for Education and by his department. Further updates will appear when solid information is released and when the next steps are made.

Following the leaked announcement The Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove was called to the Commons to answer urgent questions. Mr Gove confirmed that he will launch a consultation  to remove  the GCSE and return to O-Level style examinations. Mr Gove outlined his plans to scrap the GCSE examination and replace with a "more rigorous" O-Level and the possibility of CSE exams for the less able. Mr Gove commented that this would stop the culture of "bitesize learning" that had grown out of the GCSE in favour of a return to the "deep learning" that an O-Level system might offer. He claimed this would make English students more able to compete on a global level. The return to O-Level examinations would be set by a single examination board removing the current system of multiple exam boards which he suggested would end the "competitive dumbing down" of exams by competing boards.

Mr Gove indicated that such large-scale change would need to be broad and inclusive and therefore would form the subject of much consultation.

Opposition MPs, Liberal Democrat MP's and Conservative members of the education select committee responded to the proposals with concern. Mr Gove was asked how a return to O-Levels would enable social mobility and was reminded that O-Levels and CSE exams could emphasise a social divide. Mr Gove commented that there was already a two tier system in place with employers and further education failing to recognise the D and below grades at GCSE and that we need to work with employers to end this culture.  You can view the Commons session in full here...

Media coverage of this news continues. In certain reports a there is an indication that this consultation may also stretch as far as exploring  the idea of scrapping the National Curriculum and, the compulsion for students to achieve 5 A*- C grades at GCSE, however, these reports have not been confirmed by Mr Gove or the Department for Education.  You can read the full story leaked to the Mail here...

Mr Gove said that the government has made "great strides" to improve the quality of education thus far; the new primary curriculum will be "more rigorous" and the E-Bacc has served to increase the uptake at 14 for subjects such as history and modern foreign languages. Data to support this claim is not yet fully available.

Mr Gove, claimed that improvements had already been made to the examination system by ending modules and the ‘culture of re sits', however he believes that the evidence from parents suggests that this isn't enough and that "we need to go further."

Mr Gove was due to speak at the Times Education Festival at Wellington College on Saturday 23^rd June, but pulled out at short notice. We will keep you posted on any further news.