TEACHERS and unions have supported the Education Secretary’s ‘U-turn’ on plans to scrap GCSEs.

Michael Gove wanted to replace qualifications in the core academic subjects of English, maths, science, foreign languages, history and geography with the English Baccalaureate in 2015.

But after criticism from the teaching profession, Mr Gove admitted the plans were ‘a bridge too far’.

He said: “My idea that we end the competition between exam boards to offer GCSEs in core academic qualifications and have just one wholly new exam in each subject was just one reform too many.

“So I have decided not to make the best the enemy of the good. And I will not proceed with plans to have a single exam board offering a new exam in each academic subject.

“Instead we will concentrate on reforming existing GCSEs along the lines we put forward in September.”

Avis Gilmore, regional secretary for the National Union of Teachers in the North West, said: “The English Baccalaureate Certificates were universally condemned by everyone from the teaching profession to bodies representing the arts, sport, business, technical and design groups and the education select committee.

“This is a victory for all those who have campaigned against this ill-thought out reform to GCSEs.”

She said there must now be consultation with teachers before introducing reform.

Mark Jackson, headteacher at Haslingden High School, said the changes would have been ‘disastrous’ for some.

He said: “Although few details of the new examinations had been put forward, all colleagues that I have spoken to have major reservations about the introduction of EBCs and felt that this would not have served the country well, nor the vast majority of its students, especially those of lower ability.

“I am happy to see GCSE reformed, but don’t see the need to throw out the current system.”

Alan Chambers, headteacher at Blackburn Central High School, said : “I am delighted that Mr Gove has taken the opportunity to listen to what the teaching unions have been saying. It was very rushed and Mr Gove was trying to do too much too soon.”