Education revolution to mark end of GCSEs and A-levels

A-Levels and GCSEs face being dropped in favour of a European baccalaureate system under plans to change the 14 to 19 curriculum announced by the Government yesterday.

Mike Tomlinson, a former chief inspector of schools, said the future of the two exams was "in the melting pot". He was appointed yesterday to head a task force to look at the future of the curriculum for teenagers.

He was speaking at the launch of the Government's blueprint for educating 14 to 19-year-olds – described by David Miliband, the School Standards minister, as the "most significant" shake-up of the school curriculum for 60 years.

Ministers made clear that Mr Tomlinson would be free to recommend scrapping the two exams if he felt pupils' best interests would be served by a broader qualification along the lines of an English version of the baccalaureate. The document published by the Department for Education and Skills, gave a strong indication of support for the European-style system.

Mr Tomlinson indicated the baccalaureate could either replace the two exams or incorporate them into a new qualification.

In France, students taking the baccalaureate study a wide range of six compulsory subject areas for their qualification.

The task force's proposal was one of a series of radical moves intended to encourage more youngsters to stay on in full-time education or training after the age of 16.

Mr Miliband cited stark figures that showed the UK came 25th out of 29 OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries in a league table of participation in education for 17-year-olds.

Charles Clarke, the Secretary of State for Education, said of the UK's record: "Our historic weaknesses are clear – a weak offer for those who want a vocational orientation to their studies and an insufficiently broad and demanding offer on the A-level track." Other key proposals announced yesterday included sweeping reforms to the national curriculum for 14 to 16-year-olds – including compulsory lessons in work-related learning for all pupils from the age of 14.

Mr Tomlinson's task force has been given until the end of the year to complete the report.