Sunak scraps A-levels and reveals new ‘Advanced British Standard’

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak has announced his plan to scrap A-levels and replace it with a new qualification called the Advanced British Standard aimed at creating the “best education system in the western world”. But Mr Sunak’s plan was immediately dismissed as “pie in the sky” by teaching unions – after Downing Street admitted that it may take 10 years to introduce. “Our 16 to 19-year-olds spend around a third less time in the classroom than some of our competitors.” “The Advanced British Standard will change that too, with students typically studying five subjects and thanks to the extra teaching time we are introducing, the great breadth won’t come at the expense of depth which is such a strength of our system.” Rishi Sunak and his wife at Tory conference Akshata Murthy But criticism for Mr Sunak’s changes was swift. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said it showed the government was “out of touch” with immediate problems in the system – from recruitment and retention to crumbling school buildings.