AN OVERHAUL of the GCSE system with a return to exams called O-Levels would be an 'unfortunate decision', a leading headteacher says.

Education Secretary Michael Gove has suggested the exams for 16 year-olds will be scrapped and replaced with O-Level style papers, which went out over 20 years ago.

Dr Peter Holding, headteacher of Sir William Borlase's Grammar School in Marlow, said: “I think that might be unfortunate decision to rename them as something that went out over 20 years ago and I'd be anxious primarily about the perception of the standard of the alternative qualification.”

However, it now appears that, although the new exams will be modelled on O-levels they will carry a new name.

Dr Holding said he would 'hate' to see a two tier exam system but this also appears to have been ruled out by Mr Gove, with all children sitting the same tests.

Dr Holding said: “I think GCSEs have still got credibility.

“Our students will thrive in whichever exams we are required to present them with. It's up to the Government what exams it wants. What I'd hate to see is any suggestion that the standards of what we're currently doing has declined.

“But if the Government decides to make changes, as long as we're given time to properly prepare for it then we'll take whatever comes.”