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| Urgent question on Gove plan to scrap GCSEs: Politics live blog | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 10.20am: Here's some more reaction to Michael Gove's plan to scrap GCSEs. | |
| From Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union | |
| This appears to be yet another example of the secretary of state's ambition to create a two-tier education system. Thousands of young people will be taking their GCSEs today and, at a time when they need a confidence boost, they are being told by the secretary of state that the examinations they are taking are worthless. | |
| The timing for the proposed changes, 2014, the eve of a general election, is interesting. Could it be that the secretary of state is not confident that his education reforms will raise standards and is, therefore, is seeking to cover his tracks by removing anything that can provide a year-on-year comparator? | |
| There is no evidence that the current system is broken, that examinations are getting easier or that our qualifications are trailing behind the best in the world. | |
| Michael Gove's arrogance is breathtaking. Not only is he upsetting thousands of young people, parents and teachers but he is also consigning Margaret Thatcher's historic education reforms to the dustbin of history. | |
| From Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) | |
| O-levels were an examination that existed for a small proportion of the population, that was part of the preparation for university. It was an academic qualification, and at the time when O-levels existed vast numbers of young people left either with no qualifications or ones that employers regarded as inferior. | |
| The last thing we want to do, when we are ambitious for our education service, is to create a two-tier system. It does risk labelling teenagers as failures. | |
| In recent years we have done a lot to motivate children, to improve attendance, reduced disengagement and truancy, and this is key to the very real improvements that have taken place in schools. | |
| [The plans are] a massive risk to the well-being of students. | |
From Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT). | |
| The return to a two-tier system, CSEs and O-levels, implicitly labels some children as less capable ... The idea this once worked is a myth. | |
| From the Times's Greg Hurst | |
| Blimey HMC comment: 'Knee-jerk return to nostalgic golden age of O levels run by a state monopoly examination board naïve, will suit nobody' | |
| — Greg Hurst (@GregHurstTimes) June 21, 2012 | |
| HMC is the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, which represents indendent schools. | |
| 10.16am: Cabinet ministers are not planning to release details of their tax affairs any time soon, according to the Press Association. They've just filed this. | |
David Cameron and senior ministers are not planning to disclose their tax returns in the "very near future", Downing Street indicated today. The prime minister said in April that he expected information about his finances to become public, and was relaxed about the prospect. The comment came amid controversy over the decision to cut the 50p top tax rate, and after London mayoral candidates released their records. But a Number 10 aide said this morning that the proposal is still being "looked into". Ministers are "not closed to the idea", but it is "not a very near-future thing", the aide added. | |
| 10.10am: The BBC's Ross Hawkins has posted this on Twitter. | |
| There will be an urgent question on O-Levels 1100 in Commons from Shadow Education Minister Kevin Brennan. | |
| — Ross Hawkins (@rosschawkins) June 21, 2012 | |
| 9.54am: The Financial Times's Chris Cook has posted an excellent analysis of Michael Gove's plan to scrap GSCEs on an FT blog. Here's an extract. | |
| The most significant issues around this idea are related to social mobility: the CSE [the easier alternative to the new O-level proposed by Gove] will tend to be an exam for poorer children. Consider who would take the CSE if schools could select the quarter of pupils with the lowest average grades with perfect foresight ... | |
| This matters: one would expect it to lower aspirations among children put onto the CSE track – which would presumably happen at the age of 14. If a child gets moved onto the scheme who otherwise would be aiming for a C at GCSE, they may just stop trying. | |
| This could happen, to an extent, when pupils only sit the so-called "foundation papers" for GCSEs now. But children taking such papers can still get a C at GCSE, and they do not have a qualification on their CV which suggests to employers that teachers thought they were low-ability. | |
| 9.25am: The other big story around today, of course, is Michael Gove's plan to scrap GCSEs. It's a Daily Mail exclusive splash. Our version of it is here. | |
| Here's some reaction. | |
| From Stephen Twigg, the shadow education secretary | |
| Michael Gove must explain his changes to parents and pupils. Will going back to O-levels for some and CSEs for the rest really improve standards for all? | |
| Labour wants to see a robust, rigorous and broad curriculum and exam system that is trusted by parents, pupils and employers. We will set a series of tests to measure these changes. | |
| To succeed in the modern world, young people need a broad education, not a narrow one. Will pupils doing these new exams get access to creative or innovative learning that will create the jobs of the future? | |
| Will this divide children at fourteen into winners and losers? | |
| With no secondary national curriculum how will he ensure a rigorous approach to learning in all schools? | |
| When the Tories abolished O-levels and introduced GCSEs in the 1980s they said standards would rise. Now they say they've fallen. | |
| If there is to be a major overhaul parents will want reassurance that the new system will enable all children to progress and reach their full potential. | |
| From Lord Baker, the former Conservative education secretary who introduced the GCSE | |
| What is important is to ensure that the other subjects that are taken [ie, the easier alternative to the new O Levels] don't become a second-class area of poor performance. The CSE certificate which we did away with in the 80s became a valueless bit of paper. It was not worth anything to the students or the employers. That means there has got to be rigour for the other subjects at 16 as well. | |
| From Kevin Brennan, the shadow education minister | |
| Mrs Thatcher didn't abolish O-levels and CSEs without reason. It was because they actually stopped pupils from being able to fulfil their potential and sorted them out at far too young an age and I think that Michael Gove is in danger really of completely ripping up a system actually that works quite well but that does need to be looked at and reformed. | |
| From the NASUWT teaching union | |
| Michael Gove consigns Margaret Thatcher's education reforms to the dustbin of history.His arrogance is breathtaking. #SUFS | |
| — NASUWT (@nasuwtunion) June 21, 2012 | |
| From the BBC's Ross Hawkins | |
| Welsh Education Minister Leighton Andrews tells @BBCr5live that govt in Wales "certainly won't be bringing back O levels." | |
| — Ross Hawkins (@rosschawkins) June 21, 2012 | |
| From Sky's Sophy Ridge | |
| Lib Dem source on Gove's O-level plans: A "two tier exam system" will cause "mass concern" and "conflicts" with social mobility agenda | |
| — Sophy Ridge (@SophyRidgeSky) June 21, 2012 | |
| Striking number of Conservative MPs on Twitter v supportive of Gove's 'Return on O-level' proposals.Haven't seen any Lib Dems comment yet... | |
| — Sophy Ridge (@SophyRidgeSky) June 21, 2012 | |
| From Labour's John Prescott | |
| So we're going to cause massive unrest in our school changing from GCSEs to #GOveLevels just to please the Daily Mail? | |
| — John Prescott (@johnprescott) June 20, 2012 | |
| From Labour activist Joe Dromey | |
| Interesting to hear Gove argue for end to competition in exam boards. Apparently state run monopoly will drive up standards | |
| — Joe Dromey (@Joe_Dromey) June 21, 2012 | |
| From Tory MP Philip Davies | |
| As someone who did the first ever GCSEs in 1988 as well as a couple of O levels the year before, I am sure Michael Gove is right | |
| — Philip Davies (@PhilipDaviesMP) June 21, 2012 | |
| 9.04am: The Treasury minister David Gauke has welcomed Jimmy Carr's decision to pull out of the K2 tax avoidance scheme and urged other people involved in it to do the same. | 9.04am: The Treasury minister David Gauke has welcomed Jimmy Carr's decision to pull out of the K2 tax avoidance scheme and urged other people involved in it to do the same. |
| This is what he told BBC News. | This is what he told BBC News. |
| I welcome what Jimmy Carr has said. I think it's the right step for him to take. All the focus has been on him. But of course there are many people who have invested in these schemes that are very artificial and contrived. They are clearly not in accordance with the intention of parliament and they are not fair on the general taxpayer who has to pay more as a consequence. | I welcome what Jimmy Carr has said. I think it's the right step for him to take. All the focus has been on him. But of course there are many people who have invested in these schemes that are very artificial and contrived. They are clearly not in accordance with the intention of parliament and they are not fair on the general taxpayer who has to pay more as a consequence. |
| I hope others who have invested in such schemes, who maybe thought "Well, it's a great opportunity to reduce my tax bill", also think carefully about it, think whether it is fair, whether it is right that they do so. | I hope others who have invested in such schemes, who maybe thought "Well, it's a great opportunity to reduce my tax bill", also think carefully about it, think whether it is fair, whether it is right that they do so. |
| 8.50am: Here's some Twitter reaction to the Jimmy Carr announcement. | 8.50am: Here's some Twitter reaction to the Jimmy Carr announcement. |
| From Stewart Wood, the Labour peer | From Stewart Wood, the Labour peer |
| Now that Jimmy Carr has apologised, I expect Cameron will be moving on to those in his party & social circles who also use tax avoidance. | Now that Jimmy Carr has apologised, I expect Cameron will be moving on to those in his party & social circles who also use tax avoidance. |
| — Stewart Wood (@StewartWood) June 21, 2012 | — Stewart Wood (@StewartWood) June 21, 2012 |
| From Labour MP Jamie Reed | From Labour MP Jamie Reed |
| Cameron tries to scapegoat Carr. Media turn up at Carr's house to doorstep him. Leveson? | Cameron tries to scapegoat Carr. Media turn up at Carr's house to doorstep him. Leveson? |
| — Jamie Reed (@jreedmp) June 21, 2012 | — Jamie Reed (@jreedmp) June 21, 2012 |
| From PoliticsHome's Paul Waugh | From PoliticsHome's Paul Waugh |
| This is funniest thing he's done in ages. Jimmy Carr admits to 'a terrible error of judgement' re taxes. Sounds like a 2nd rate MP | This is funniest thing he's done in ages. Jimmy Carr admits to 'a terrible error of judgement' re taxes. Sounds like a 2nd rate MP |
| — Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) June 21, 2012 | — Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) June 21, 2012 |
| Pressure now really on Gary Barlow to follow Carr's suit. Much more politically tricky for Cam, given endorsement b4 election. | Pressure now really on Gary Barlow to follow Carr's suit. Much more politically tricky for Cam, given endorsement b4 election. |
| — Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) June 21, 2012 | — Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) June 21, 2012 |
| From Times columnist David Aaronovitch | From Times columnist David Aaronovitch |
| Jimmy Carr has been shamed out of tax immorality. That is something of a victory, and worth celebrating. Good statement too. | Jimmy Carr has been shamed out of tax immorality. That is something of a victory, and worth celebrating. Good statement too. |
| — David Aaronovitch (@DAaronovitch) June 21, 2012 | — David Aaronovitch (@DAaronovitch) June 21, 2012 |
| From Labour's John Prescott | From Labour's John Prescott |
| PM attacking @jimmycarr was a media distraction to the doctors strike. Once Tory supporters were accused of doing same, we get #govelevels | PM attacking @jimmycarr was a media distraction to the doctors strike. Once Tory supporters were accused of doing same, we get #govelevels |
| — John Prescott (@johnprescott) June 21, 2012 | — John Prescott (@johnprescott) June 21, 2012 |
| From the commentator Mehdi Hasan | From the commentator Mehdi Hasan |
| If only Ken Livingstone had followed Jimmy Carr's example, eh? He might have been mayor now... #jimmycarronestepahead | If only Ken Livingstone had followed Jimmy Carr's example, eh? He might have been mayor now... #jimmycarronestepahead |
| — Mehdi Hasan (@ns_mehdihasan) June 21, 2012 | — Mehdi Hasan (@ns_mehdihasan) June 21, 2012 |
| 8.45am: "Breaking" (as they say, rather irritatingly, on Twitter). The comedian Jimmy Carr has raised the white flag. Around 16 hours after David Cameron said his involvement in the K2 tax avoidance scheme was "morally wrong", he used his Twitter feed to say he was pulling out of it. Here are the key tweets. | 8.45am: "Breaking" (as they say, rather irritatingly, on Twitter). The comedian Jimmy Carr has raised the white flag. Around 16 hours after David Cameron said his involvement in the K2 tax avoidance scheme was "morally wrong", he used his Twitter feed to say he was pulling out of it. Here are the key tweets. |
| I appreciate as a comedian, people will expect me to 'make light' of this situation, but I'm not going to in this statement | I appreciate as a comedian, people will expect me to 'make light' of this situation, but I'm not going to in this statement |
| as this is obviously a serious matter. | as this is obviously a serious matter. |
| I met with a financial advisor and he said to me "Do you want to pay less tax? It's totally legal." I said "Yes." | I met with a financial advisor and he said to me "Do you want to pay less tax? It's totally legal." I said "Yes." |
| I now realise I've made a terrible error of judgement. | I now realise I've made a terrible error of judgement. |
| Although I've been advised the K2 Tax scheme is entirely legal, and has been fully disclosed to HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs), | Although I've been advised the K2 Tax scheme is entirely legal, and has been fully disclosed to HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs), |
| I'm no longer involved in it and will in future conduct my financial affairs much more responsibly. Apologies to everyone. Jimmy Carr | I'm no longer involved in it and will in future conduct my financial affairs much more responsibly. Apologies to everyone. Jimmy Carr |
| Good for him. I'll be covering the reaction to this, as well as looking at the other big story this morning, the Daily Mail's revelation that Michael Gove wants to scrap GCSEs. And then, at about 2pm, we've got a rare press conference with David Cameron. He's giving it with the Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, but I fear it won't last long because as soon as the questions get tricky, Cameron will say she's got to head off for her speech to parliament (at 3pm). | Good for him. I'll be covering the reaction to this, as well as looking at the other big story this morning, the Daily Mail's revelation that Michael Gove wants to scrap GCSEs. And then, at about 2pm, we've got a rare press conference with David Cameron. He's giving it with the Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, but I fear it won't last long because as soon as the questions get tricky, Cameron will say she's got to head off for her speech to parliament (at 3pm). |
| As usual, I'll be covering all the breaking political news, as well as looking at the papers and bringing you the best politics from the web. I'll post a lunchtime summary at around 1pm and another at about 4pm. | As usual, I'll be covering all the breaking political news, as well as looking at the papers and bringing you the best politics from the web. I'll post a lunchtime summary at around 1pm and another at about 4pm. |
| If you want to follow me on Twitter, I'm on @AndrewSparrow. | If you want to follow me on Twitter, I'm on @AndrewSparrow. |
| And if you're a hardcore fan, you can follow @gdnpoliticslive. It's an automated feed that tweets the start of every new post that I put on the blog. | And if you're a hardcore fan, you can follow @gdnpoliticslive. It's an automated feed that tweets the start of every new post that I put on the blog. |