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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Tories plan league tables review | Tories plan league tables review |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Tory plans could see schools get higher league table places by getting more pupils through what they call "harder" A-levels such as maths and physics. | |
| The party's proposals for England are being considered as part of a review it commissioned from Sir Richard Sykes. | The party's proposals for England are being considered as part of a review it commissioned from Sir Richard Sykes. |
| Fewer points could also be given for some subjects regarded as being less difficult, such as media studies. | |
| The Tories claim the exam system has been "dumbed down" and standards "are not what they should be". | |
| Michael Gove, the shadow education secretary, told the Sunday Telegraph: "Some schools lead pupils towards qualifications which may not be in their interests, but which are easier to pass. | |
| "At the same time, exams which are rigorous, such as the international GCSE (IGCSE), does not count at all in league tables. | "At the same time, exams which are rigorous, such as the international GCSE (IGCSE), does not count at all in league tables. |
| "This nonsense can't go on." | "This nonsense can't go on." |
| Not 'demanding' | Not 'demanding' |
| Other plans outlined in the proposals would include removing vocational qualifications from league table rankings. | Other plans outlined in the proposals would include removing vocational qualifications from league table rankings. |
| This would include the government's flagship new diploma, which Conservatives claim is "nowhere near as academically demanding" as traditional A-levels and GCSEs. | This would include the government's flagship new diploma, which Conservatives claim is "nowhere near as academically demanding" as traditional A-levels and GCSEs. |
| Schools would also no longer be judged on the proportion of pupils who gain five A* to C grades. | Schools would also no longer be judged on the proportion of pupils who gain five A* to C grades. |
| Critics have claimed staff feel pressured to concentrate on borderline C grade pupils and the needs of more able children are ignored. | Critics have claimed staff feel pressured to concentrate on borderline C grade pupils and the needs of more able children are ignored. |
| Instead, a points-based system would be introduced, placing more value on higher grades. | Instead, a points-based system would be introduced, placing more value on higher grades. |
| There is objective evidence from people who care about academic standards that they are not what they should be Michael Gove, shadow education secretary | |
| Mr Gove said Labour's "meddling and micromanaging of exams" had led to a "dumbing down" of the system and the current league table system had only aided the deterioration. | |
| Critics of the current system say practical qualifications such as cake decoration, pottery and flower arranging are being given equivalent value to traditional A-levels. | |
| One example given included a course in "tanning treatments" which was worth 45 points in school league table scores - the same as an A grade in one of the four units that make up an A-level. | |
| Mr Gove argued that independent reports from the Royal Society of Chemistry and Sir Peter Williams, who carried out the government's maths review, show there has been a fall in standards. | |
| "Ofqual, the exam regulator, has admitted that the current level of rigour in GCSE science is not good enough," he said. | |
| "There is objective evidence from people who care about academic standards that they are not what they should be." | |
| Mr Gove said that universities do not consider every A-level to be equally rigorous. | |
| He warned that certain universities such as Cambridge, the London School of Economics and others told prospective students that taking "softer" A-levels such as media studies and dance will count against them. | |
| "And yet the government insists that all A-levels are of equal weight," he added. |