HC Deb 18 April 1978 vol 948 c79W
44. Sir A. Meyer

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent proposals she has received from the Schools Council about the public examination system.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

The Schools Council has put to me proposals for a common system of examining at 16-plus, to replace the present Certificate of Secondary Education and General Certificate of Education O level examinations. The council has also proposed a new examination, the Certificate of Extended Education, for candidates taking one year courses in the sixth form. Both proposals are under consideration by committees appointed by me. The council is at present studying the possibility of replacing GCE A levels with a five-subject two-level examination system, but has not yet made any recommendations to me.