Gove urged to rethink ‘unrealistic’ EBaccs plan

Michael Gove has been urged to rethink his plan to replace GCSEs with the English baccalaureate amid concerns that his aims for the new qualification may not be “realistically achievable”.

Glenys Stacey, who heads England’s exams regulator, Ofqual, told the Education Secretary that EBaccs may result in “limited” teaching motivated to increase pass rates in league tables.

In a letter to Mr Gove published today, Ms Stacey also said that there were “no precedents” to provide confidence that a single qualification could instil in pupils all the abilities required for working life or future study, while also allowing standards in schools to be judged fairly.

The letter was released just hours after Mr Gove refused to give details of what it said while appearing before the Commons education select committee. His refusal to disclose its contents was described as ‘unacceptable by Committee chairman Graham Stuart”.

Ebaccs are due to be taught from 2015, with the first exams in 2017.