How do the new GCSE plans compare to the E-Bacc?
The Education Secretary confirmed today he will not press ahead with plans to scrap GCSEs, but told the Commons that there would be reforms.
Gove replaces GCSE exams with English Baccalaureate
The GCSE exam for children in England is to be replaced by an English Baccalaureate Certificate with the first courses to begin in 2015.
Coalition to unveil major overhaul of GCSE exam system
Education Secretary Michael Gove is to unveil details of a major overhaul of GCSE exams marking a return in part to the old O-level system.
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Labour: U-turn is a 'victory for good quality education'
The Education Secretary, Michael Gove, has been forced into a U-turn on his flagship plan to scrap GCSEs and replace them with a new English Baccalaureate.
Speaking to ITV Daybreak, Shadow Education Secretary Stephen Twigg said this was a "humiliating climbdown" for the coalition.
Read: Government should focus on 'improving' GCSE achievement
He said he hoped the GCSE system would be revisited, but with an emphasis on vocational education, the Labour party support plans for a 'technical Baccalaureate'.
Mr Twigg added that he wanted to "work with the Government to get a better set of exams for the future."
Read: Ed Miliband: New plans could 'squeeze' creativity out of the system
Gove set out plans to replace key GCSEs in September
The Education Secretary Michael Gove announced his plans to replace GCSE's with an English Baccalaureate Certificate last September.
Mr Gove said that the first courses would commence in September 2015.
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Labour: 'A humiliating climbdown from Michael Gove'
Following reports that Education Secretary Michael Gove has been forced to abandon plans to replace GCSEs with the English Baccalaureate, shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg has said, Mr Gove should have listened to warnings:
This is a humiliating climbdown from Michael Gove.
It shows why he should have listened to business leaders, headteachers and experts in the first place and not come up with a plan on the back of an envelope.
Pupils and parents need certainty now. Michael Gove must now make clear whether he will abandon his narrow, out of date plans altogether or merely try to delay them.
He needs to go back to the drawing board and develop a curriculum and exam system that meets our future challenges as a country.
Labour wants to work with the Government to forge a long term consensus on exam and curriculum reform. We would welcome cross party talks.
Read: Ed Miliband: New plans could 'squeeze' creativity out of the system
Report: Ebacc plans could fall short of EU rules
Mr Gove originally wanted to introduce the new EBacc certificate in England in the five core academic areas:
- English
- Maths
- Science
- Languages
- Humanities
Every core subject would then have been handed down to a single examination board, which Mr Gove argued was essential to prevent boards "dumbing down" standards.
Report: Michael Gove to U-turn on plans to scrap GCSEs
Pressure from the coalition has forced Education Secretary Michael Gove into a U-turn on plans to scrap GCSEs in favour of a new English Baccalaureate, The Independent reports.
Last week the Commons Education Committee accused the Government of not "proving" its case that GCSEs should be abolished in favour of the new system.
Labour leader Ed Miliband accused the Government of "squeezing creativity out of the system".
The newspaper reports that Mr Gove will go before the Commons today to set out alternative proposals to reform GCSEs.
A Department for Education source said: "We do not comment on leaks. Mr Gove will make a statement to the House tomorrow."
GCSE plans could 'squeeze' creativity out of the system
Ed Miliband has been speaking to ITV Daybreak about the Government's radical new plans to scrap GCSEs and overhaul the school exam system.
The Labour leader will today set out his plans to get more young people into work.
He said that people are against the new plans, because they feel the Government is "squeezing creativity out of the system".
He added some children need high quality vocational skills, to help them get into full time employment.
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Plans to axe GCSEs: The system needs a 'proper review'
MPs and education professionals are warning that plans to axe GCSEs in favour of English Baccalaureate Certificates in English, maths and science could lead to the 'downgrading' of remaining GCSE subjects.
Speaking to ITV Daybreak, Kathryn James from the National Association of Head Teachers said: "[The Government] is putting in a system, far too quickly, without a proper review."
Questions over Government's case to abolish GCSEs
GCSE exams could be scrapped under controversial new government proposals by 2015.
Plans to axe them in favour of English Baccalaureate Certificates have been criticised by the Commons Education Select Committee.
ITV Daybreak spoke to MP Graham Stuart from the Education Select Committee, who said the committee is questioning whether the Government has made a strong enough case to abolish the GCSE brand.
Govt should focus on 'improving' GCSE achievement
The education select committee report on exam reform states that in 2011/12, 41.4% of pupils did not get five GCSEs, including English and maths, at grades A*-C.
It suggested the government should focus on improving the achievement of the "significant minority" that do not achieve five good GCSEs.
"While it is right to raise young people's expectations and aspirations, we fail to see how raising the bar will automatically result in more young people achieving higher standards," the report said.
"Furthermore, we have serious concerns about how well the proposed reforms will serve the 40% plus of pupils who do not achieve the Government's current floor standard."
Government's position on exam reform 'untenable'
Christine Blower, the general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, says Education Secretary Michael Gove is "isolated" in his view that GCSEs should be replaced.
She said: "Michael Gove and the Coalition Government's position on examination reform is now surely untenable. The Education Secretary is totally isolated in his view that the English Baccalaureate Certificates are a suitable measure to replace GCSEs."
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