Michael Gove In U-Turn On Scrapping GCSEs

Q&A: Gove's GCSE Reforms

Updated: 11:22am UK, Thursday 07 February 2013

Michael Gove's plans had been described as the biggest education overhaul for a generation but now he has been forced into a U-turn. Here is an explainer.

What is the current exam system?

GCSEs, which were first taught in 1986, have two tiers - the highest for brighter pupils, with grades up to A*, and a foundation level which only goes up to grade C.

Critics claim the qualifications have been dumbed down by the use of modules and coursework and having less focus on final exams.

The system also lets private exam boards compete to attract schools to choose their exams, which has led to criticism that schools go to those offering the highest pass rate.

What was Michael Gove proposing?

Mr Gove announced last September that GCSEs would be replaced with a new qualification, the English Baccalaureate Certificate (Ebacc).

This would have removed continuous assessment and coursework from core subjects and put the focus back on traditional end-of-course exams.

The first courses were due to start in September 2015, with the first exams in 2017. Initially, it would only apply to English, maths and science.

EBacc certificates in other subjects, such as history, geography and languages, would be introduced at a later date.

A pupil would earn the full certificate if they passed EBacc level in English, maths, the sciences, a humanities subject and a foreign language.

Mr Gove also planned to make exam boards take charge of a single subject, forcing them to bid for a "franchise" to stop them competing.

Why was there such opposition?

The Commons education committee warned the changes were "too much, too fast" and said the Government had failed to make its case for scrapping the GCSE qualification.

According to a recent YouGov survey, 81% of teachers also felt the plans were being rushed through without enough consultation.

Regulator Ofqual raised concerns about it happening at the same time as other GCSE reforms and a radical shake-up of A-levels.

Lib Dems and others were concerned that the new system could marginalise other subjects like arts and sport.

There were also warnings that plans to have single exam boards per subject could breach EU procurement rules.

What is now being scrapped?

The EBacc has been ditched and GCSEs will continue.

Plans for single exam boards per subject have also been axed.

What will still go ahead?

Mr Gove has struck a compromise after conflict with the Lib Dems in the coalition. EBaccs will go but he is still committed to driving up standards.

The role of coursework will be limited, with a tougher syllabus and exams at the end of two years instead of modules.

Subjects like history and English will be tested with longer, essay-style questions and maths and science will see more complex problem-solving questions.

There will also be extension papers in maths and science for the brightest pupils.

A new National Curriculum will focus on the core knowledge pupils must acquire from the age of 5 to 14 so that they are better prepared for exams.

League tables ranking schools on the number of pupils getting five A*-C grades will also be axed and replaced with an average points score from their performance in eight subjects.

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