UK watchdog to oversee 'dumbed down' exam claims

England's exam system is to be put in the hands of an independent watchdog to counter criticism that GCSEs and A-levels are getting easier.

The body will be split from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, Education Secretary Ed Balls announce at the UK Labour Party's recent annual conference.

He said that he wanted to end the annual debate about exam standards being "dumbed down".

Mr Balls is also unveiling plans to boost literacy and numeracy.

He said it was time to end the "sterile dumbing-down debate", with young people told every summer that their exam results were not "worth what they used to be".

It was vital to separate the roles of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), which currently sets the national curriculum, sets tests and regulates exams, he said.

Mr Balls added: "All the evidence I have is that standards have been maintained and the reason why, therefore, results are rising is because of the hard work of teachers and young people.

"But to give employers, parents and young people themselves the confidence that we are maintaining standards, I believe this independent regulator will give that credibility and that assurance so we can get on and celebrate the achievements of our young people." The Conservative Party welcomed the announcement, with shadow education secretary Michael Gove saying: "It is quite right to break up the QCA and separate the role of regulator from its other functions.

"I am glad that Ed Balls has adopted a policy we have been advocating for many years.

"The key test for him, however, is to ensure that exam standards are robust by global standards and that we reverse the trend that has seen us falling behind our international competitors."

QCA chief executive Ken Boston said: "This is a very welcome development, and the logical next step along the path QCA has been advocating."

(Source: BBC News Website)