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Gove's education reforms will benefit business

The business community has welcomed GCSE reforms announced by Education Secretary Michael Gove on Thursday.

Former plans to completely do away with GCSEs in favour of a new “English Baccalaureate” have been scrapped.

The proposed “eBacc” was an attempt to tackle wide criticism of grade inflation and modularisation within the GCSE system.

Competition between different exam boards also posed a problem for Mr Gove, who suggested that bringing individual subjects under one exam board would bring the UK’s education system up to a par with the rest of Europe.

Mr Gove admitted his plans to eliminate GCSEs were “a bridge too far” in the House of Commons on Thursday, but maintained that changes would still be made to the qualification.

Modularisation will still be scrapped, along with the “culture of resists”, however competition between exam boards will remain.

Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors, commented: “The overriding concern for employers is that the exam system must deliver rigour and high educational standards - what qualifications are called is a secondary issue.

“The new curriculum learns the lessons of the best education systems in the world to ensure our children leave school well-equipped for life and the workplace.

“For far too long a sizeable minority of pupils has been severely let down in terms of literacy and numeracy, which has a knock-on effect on the economy. Businesses will welcome reforms which will raise standards, help children and boost growth.

“Michael Gove is the first Secretary of State for Education in many years to show deep commitment to raising standards, something which is hugely important to business.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .