Commenting on the announcement that GCSEs are to be retained in England, Dr. Philip Dixon, Director of ATL Cymru, said: ‘While the proposal to scrap GCSEs would not have affected youngsters in Wales we are pleased to see that they are now to be retained in England too. The proposed scrapping of GCSEs was ill-thought through, and succeed in uniting the whole of the education community – universities and schools, exam boards and Ofqal, maintained and independent sector, employers and unions - against the Secretary of State. In Wales, by contrast, the Qualifications Review revealed the almost universal agreement that GCSEs should be retained and improved. However, today’s U turn means that three country regulation will now stay in place. The need for a regulator in Wales, completely independent of government, is now more imperative than ever if we are to maintain the value and portability of Welsh qualifications.’

Dr Philip Dixon
Director