Morris vows to review new exams

The Government is to take a careful look at how new exams for sixth formers have worked in their first year of operation, Education and Skills Secretary Estelle Morris said today.

On her first visit to a school since being promoted in last Friday's Cabinet reshuffle, she said that she had heard the debate on AS levels, which tens of thousands of 17-year-olds are currently taking in England and Wales.

Under the new sixth form curriculum brought in last September, students choose four or five AS level subjects, with a view to narrowing down their choices to three A levels, now known as A2s, in the second year.

But there has been a chorus of complaint from headteachers and pupils about the pressure they claim AS levels are causing.

Heads have described the situation as a "shambles" as exams in the same subject run by different boards have clashed, forcing schools to segregate large groups of students while students have said they are under too much pressure.

After her tour of Henry Compton Secondary School in Fulham, south west London, Ms Morris said: "I am listening carefully - I've heard a lot of things over the last few days and I picked that up as well during the election campaign."

Since Labour was first elected in 1997 it had always evaluated its education policies and made changes when necessary.

"I've heard what people have said and I'm thinking about that - we will obviously want to say something in due course."

Liberal Democrat education spokesman Phil Willis called for a "comprehensive review of the entire 14-19 exam structure, including university entrance".

He added: "Whilst a widening of the qualifications structure is desirable and long-overdue, the hurried implementation of the AS level qualification has turned our young people into exam factory fodder.

"The Liberal Democrats want to see a single qualifications framework between 14 and 19 which will prepare young people for higher education and for employment."