Controversy over exam shake-up

A-levels and GCSEs will disappear in the most fundamental exam reforms for half a century.

Pupils will be able to specialise in academic or vocational subjects, or a mixture of both. Coursework will be replaced with an extended project. But the proposals, from former chief schools inspector Mike Tomlinson, look certain to cause a huge political row. The Confederation of British Industry threatened to withhold its support unless Mr Tomlinson convinced it his plans would improve workers' grasp of the three Rs.

And the Tories vowed to bring back the system of the Seventies, allowing state schools to offer OLevels as well as GCSEs, and restricting the top grade at A-level to the best five or 10 per cent of entries.

Mindful of the controversy, government sources said Education Secretary Charles Clarke backed the diploma but would wait until next spring before committing himself to the plan. By then, the general election

campaign may have begun. If preparations begin next year, children starting primary school in September 2005 will be first to start to start the new exam system when they turn 14.

Mr Clarke asked Mr Tomlinson in 2002 to devise a new qualification. The diploma aims to solve problems that have long bedevilled English education.

Universities struggle to choose between thousands of students with three straight As, and many believe A-levels have been dumbed down. Meanwhile many teenagers leave school at 16 with no qualifications after becoming bored with traditional academic subjects.

The diploma will have four levels: entry, foundation, intermediate and advanced. Pupils will probably be expected to complete the intermediate level by 16. All would do maths, English and information technology.

The extended project could be a university-style dissertation, or for those doing vocational units a demonstration of skills, for example carpentry or hairdressing. Teenagers could spend part of their week learning in factories, shops and offices.

The diploma will be awarded at pass, merit or distinction. Some units will be pitched at university standard to stretch the brightest candidates.

Questions will be more open-ended, moving away from the structured A-level questions that Mr Tomlinson believes give away too much about the answers examiners want.

The CBI branded poor literacy and numeracy skills a national scandal. Deputy director-general John Cridland said: "While firms want radical action, they will take some convincing that a major shake-up of exams will resolve the issue."