As an academic of 40 years teaching in Greece, I would take Mr Jarvis's point about the risk to British education very seriously. It's true that the IB is a widely recognised qualification but UK GCE "A" levels are still regarded as the gold standard for entry to higher education - anywhere. This is not merely because of the rigour of the "A" levels but also the confidence in how they are marked and moderated by the excellent British exam boards. No doubt the new UK diploma will also be well moderated but since it's a duplicate of the IB why, if I were a parent in Greece or Hong Kong etc, would I opt for an untried qualification when I can send my child to the local school to do the IB? It takes around 10 years to bed in new qualifications - look at NVQ's and GNVQ's - so English parents, pupils, employers and decision-makers should prepare for a long, bumpy ride without any guarantee of a successful implementation. Just to be safe I would advise Scotland, Wales and NI to sit tight!

Dr David Green, Athens, Greece

It all boils down to the fact that any Examination worth it's salt is when a high percentage fail, otherwise we end up with the current situation of ensuring everybody passes and no value to the qualification.
The problem of making examinations a true test as in pre sixties times, is that the Teachers today have been educated in the post 60's era, since when standards have been falling and consequently overall are not capable of Teaching to a higher level.
So a 3 day course to instruct Teachers of higher Teaching standards is in most cases a waste of time, as they don't have the Teaching level required in the first place.
In any change the first rule is to improve the standard in Teaching , then introduce the changes at school level. Naturally this will take a lot more than 3 days, as anyone with any degree of intelligence at the Government Education Department should realise.

john Gilmore, Chantilly, France

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't socialism about all being equal? And isn't this why the exam system awards more and more top grades each year?

I thought the whole point of an examination system is to distinguish those who are more talented \ motivated, so that potential employers could identify those with ability & a work ethic.

What's the point of awarding everyone a qualification? The exams may or may not be getting easier, but they're worthless if everyone holds the same qualifications.

Which is why so many graduates now can't get jobs. NuSocialism wants everyone to go to Uni (to manipulate unemployment figures) and the qualification is becoming worthless.

ws, Manchester,

If the Labour Government were seriously concerned with improving education at 16 plus level, it would introduce the International Baccalaureate in the state system. This would have the added advantage of universal acceptance in other countries. However, it is a very demanding course, and as the Government's objective is to produce qualifications that can be obtained relatively easily, to ensure a future "well qualified workforce". I think worries that pupils will fail this new qualification are unfounded. As always the goalposts will be moved to ensure that they don't - eg. language qualifications without "stressful" oral exams, open book exams, modular exams that can be re-taken etc etc.

Mac, Barcelona, Spain

The sad thing is, like the GCSE certificate, it will be another twenty years of politicians convincing themselves that they have done a good job and then replacing the failed diploma with another badly planned school leaving certificate.

Mark, Yorkshire,

Of course, with all the sense God gave it, the government is trying a pilot project to iron out the wrinkles, as you do. All we have to do is find out where.

Jason, Croydon, UK

'and there were fears that the qualification would be too demanding for pupils' good. Children should be tested to the highest level, otherwise what's the point?

Malcolm, London,

Families who want their children to have the best possible education will continue to favour A levels. Government must therefore persuade parents that the diploma will allow children access to the best university courses. This "replacement" for the A level is more likely to fail because of parents' wishes than teachers' weaknesses.

Des, Edinburgh,

Until relatively recently, the government had nothing to do with public examinations. Now, as with all aspects of life it constantly interferes with dire consequences. Independent schools can choose whichever examinations they want for their pupils, but state schools are forced by the government to be limited to certain ones and cannot, for example, enter pupils for the International GCSE or the International Baccalaureate.

George, Bolton, England