Climbdown as ministers abandon reform of A-level system
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Your support makes all the difference.Bright sixth-formers will be able to skip AS-level exams and sit traditional A-levels again under proposals published yesterday.
The Government might be forced to reverse its exam reforms after the independent inquiry into this summer's exams fiasco recommendedthe new AS and A-level exam be "decoupled" and the elements stand as separate qualifications.
This means young people would be able to take their A-levels at the end of the sixth form as they did before the "Curriculum 2000" changes were introduced. In the report, Mike Tomlinson, who led the inquiry, saidthe examination system was "operating at, or even beyond, capacity". Mr Tomlinson said the move would "reduce the examination burden on students".
Charles Clarke, the Secretary of State for Education, had told MPs the current system was "fundamentally sound". Last night he said moves to split the exams would be considered as part of the Government's review of education for 14 to 19-year-olds, due to be unveiled in January.
If the "decoupling" is agreed, the AS-level exam would remain for pupils wanting to broaden their studies. It would also serve as a qualification worth half an A-level. Mr Tomlinson made clear the separation of the two exams was a "longer-term aim", adding: "My first goal is to secure the 2002-03 examinations and make sure this summer's events will not be repeated." He said his biggest worry was that exam boards would not be able to recruit enough markers.
Dr Ken Boston, chief executive of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, said they had recruited 6,000 of the 50,000 needed. Mr Tomlinson urged the exam boards to hire as markers trainee teachers taking the Post Graduate Certificate of Education.
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