Government must look at the big picture and move to a secondary education diploma - Davey

1.06.13pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 25th Aug 2005

Commenting ahead of the publication of GCSE results, Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary, Edward Davey MP said:

"Students and their teachers should be congratulated for all their hard work.

"However the Government must be held to account over a system where such a high proportion of exams are failed.

"What the past two weeks should have made obvious is that we can't look at GCSEs and A-levels separately - the debate needs to be about the big picture of secondary education.

"A diploma would stretch our brightest, extend greater choice to pupils and end the vocational-academic divide.

"It is the Government's job to ensure that the education system equips all our young people with the skills and qualifications they need for success in adult life. When businesses, universities and teachers all back diplomas, Labour's failure to act is a scandal."