History A-level may become a thing of the past

History is in danger of disappearing as an A-level subject, according to the head of the body representing UK exam markers.

Kathleen Tattersall, the chairman of the Chartered Institute of Education Assessors, warned that the subject was facing replacement by "so-called soft subjects", such as media studies and photography, and others that were more likely to lead more directly to employment.

"They have been the growth subjects in the past few years," she told The Independent during an interview. "What people will want to study is what they need for a job," she added.

"History is disappearing because it is no longer a requirement of the national curriculum for 14- to 16-year-olds. It is just one of the subjects that is at risk.

"History is also disappearing into the new citizenship, which is being promoted by the Government."

Take-up of the subject and others, such as modern foreign languages and geography, is likely to show a decline again when A-level and GCSE results are published next week, 16 August.

Ms Tattersall was speaking in the wake of figures released by Ofsted, the education standards watchdog, which showed that only one in three pupils was pursuing the subject after the age of 14, and even fewer at A-level.

She conceded that geography could make a comeback, with concern over global warming convincing children there was a need to study it. However, she said the trend away from history was "a sad reflection" on today's priorities.

Ms Tattersall added that she "got very angry" with claims, such as those made by the Professional Association of Teachers last week, that A-levels and GCSE's had been "dumbed down".

"Examinations are far more sophisticated, more demanding and demand a greater range of skills than they used to, and kids have a lot more to do," she said. "The exams of the past in their structure were far easier. You were just given three essay questions and had to answer them. I get angry with the fact that the critics don't recognise the success we have had in education in moving from a system which only really educated 20 per cent of kids to one which affords a real education for all kids.

"Standards have not fallen. If I was still a teacher, I'd feel really angry about those claims." Ms Tattersall also cautioned against giving pupils their exam results by text message.

Ken Boston, the chief executive of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, the exams watchdog, indicated this could happen within the next few years. In addition, one of the country's "big three" exam boards, Edexcel, is pioneering a system of candidates getting their results online this year.

"I've a feeling that the regulator won't allow it even though the technology might support it," she said.

"You have to think about the impact that exam results can have on an individual and where they are when they receive them ... At school, if you are in the company of others there will be people around to offer pastoral care and support if you have done poorly."

She said she believed the QCA would "take a deep breath" and turn it down - fearful it could lead to student suicides.

Ms Tattersall also counselled against the introduction of a new A* grade - due to be introduced for those who start their A-levels in September 2008.

She said: "Whenever you introduce a new top grade you automatically devalue everything else. With GCSE, if you don't get your A* grade you think you haven't done well and I'm sure the same thing will happen at A-level."

University admissions staff have demanded the introduction of the new grade, saying that, with 20 per cent of scripts awarded an A grade, they found it difficult to choose the best talent.

Ms Tattersall argued that they should be able to do this if they interviewed students as well as looking at their qualifications.

Enjoyable ways to learn

* W C Sellar and R J Yeatman's 1066 and All That, published in 1930, is the bible of satirical writing and has been endlessly mimicked, with a long line of spin-offs, including Craig Brown's 1966 and All That.

* Alan Bennett exemplified the battle for pupils' hearts and minds with his play History Boys. Dubious teacher-student relations are thrown in to the mix.

* Natty suits, the looks of a young Sean Connery and hugely successful books and television work have elevated Harvard academic Niall Ferguson above his fellow dons. But his right-wing views and imperialist obsessions have not struck a chord with Britain's youth.

* Baldrick, played by Tony Robinson, was the turnip-loving sidekick to the hero ofBlackadder. Robinson has also fronted Time Team, The Worst Jobs in History and others. But he will forever be associated with "having a cunning plan", before being floored by Rowan Atkinson.