Every pupil in country could get ranking in tougher GCSEs

Teenagers taking new O-level style exams will be told how their individual results compare with every other pupil in the country under a plan to create national rankings.

Candidates will be given their “raw” marks in each subject as well as their final grades. Critics said the plan, which would apply to those taking new-style tougher GCSEs, will “brand young people for life”.

Education Secretary Michael Gove is considering introducing the rankings as part of his overhaul of the exams system at age 16, sources said. Candidates would get a certificate showing their grade, their rank, and a graph showing where they sit in the overall distribution of scores. The details would be sent only to them and not published for all to see.

A source close to him confirmed the idea was being considered for GCSE students, but no decisions had been made. Mr Gove first suggested publishing rankings for A-level students last October. He said he wanted to debate the issue and admitted it could be a “completely wrong-headed idea”.

Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said ranking pupils on exam results would “brand individual young people for life”.

It comes as a new back-to-basics test at age 11 was announced. The test concentrates on punctuation, spelling and grammar and is designed to prepare pupils for the tougher GCSEs. It is being introduced following concerns that the fundamental rules of English have been neglected.

A Department for Education spokeswoman said:  "We are discussing qualification reform with Ofqual, and how we can work together to ensure that students are able to take the best possible set of qualifications at age 16 - both in the core subjects of English, maths and science, and across the full range of subjects that young people study. 

"We are committed to ensuring that these qualifications are rigorous and challenging, and properly prepare students to progress in their education, after the age of 16. 

"We are also committed to ensuring that the changes required can be implemented effectively by schools, and will be setting out our proposals soon."