The British Government has decided to ditch “modular” qualifications mainly based on coursework, modules and controlled assessment to replace them with one final examination. Photo: AP

A return to final examinations at GCSE level could discriminate against girls, British teachers warned yesterday.

Girls’ GCSE grades could drop as a result of the Government’s decision to ditch “modular” qualifications as they are less confident and adventurous when taking end-of-course exams, according to a former chief examiner.

Geoff Venn, a retired chemistry teacher from Bedfordshire, told the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) annual conference in Liverpool that he was concerned that gains in girls’ GCSE results could be lost as the Government pushes ahead with exam reforms.

Education Secretary Michael Gove confirmed plans last month for a major overhaul of GCSEs, which will see exams taken at the end of two-year courses, rather than in modules throughout, as well as an increase in extended questions and less internal assessment.

But Mr Venn, who was a chief examiner in the 1980s, argued that the move could have a “considerable” gender impact.

He told delegates: “I was involved in exams back in the time when GCSE was being introduced, and during the time immediately afterwards.

“One of the big developments that occurred during that time was the gradual increase in the percentage of girls who were succeeding in GCSE generally and particularly in science GCSEs.

“This, we felt, was very often because of the different ways in which assessment was being used, and different forms of assessment.”

Statistics show that girls have been outperforming boys at GCSE level for more than 20 years.