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The former principal of a sixth-form college in Hull said that schools would ignore the general diploma because nobody would need it and that pupils would ignore the extended essay because no university would ask for it.

Ms Kelly, who was jeered by the usually polite audience of school leaders on Friday, had declared that her plans would end the “intellectual snobbery” about existing vocational qualifications, but failed to pledge any extra resources.

In the 93-page document, she announced specialised diplomas in 14 areas reflecting “key sectors of the economy”, which would replace the existing 3,500 vocational qualifications by 2015.

The first four would be available by 2008 in information and communication technology, engineering, health and social care and the creative and media industries.

However, on the same day, Dr John Hood, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, told the Education Select Committee: “We typically do not accept vocational qualifications.”

Yesterday headteachers also expressed further concerns about possible discrimination and barriers being raised against thousands of pupils applying for elite universities in 2006.

With applicants already numbering over 380,000, universities admit that they will have to raise the bar at the most elite universities to discriminate between the very highest achievers. From next year, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service will be sending out a revamped application form which will include a box stating whether pupils have taken part in the National Academy of Gifted and Talented Youth.

The academy provides summer schools and extra classes for pupils aged 11-19 whom it considers to be intellectually in the top 5 per cent of the country. Anyone may apply and schools must provide evidence of a child’s intelligence with IQ tests and aptitude tests taken.

However, Sue Kirkham, headteacher of Walton High School in Staffordshire, said that she feared that the new box would discriminate against pupils whose schools, like those in Wales, which do not promote the scheme or students who were slow developers.

Mrs Kirkham said that parents were already asking if they should put forward their children for the scheme to help them to apply to university later.

In a speech to the Welsh Conservatives’ conference at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Mr Howard said: “A Conservative government will, in its first month, start a top-to-bottom review of the national curriculum.

“We’ll slim it down so teachers don’t have so much paperwork. We’ll review tests, GCSEs and A levels to restore public confidence in our education system.

“And we’ll root out political correctness, replacing it with the building blocks of knowledge that are essential to give every child their birthright: a decent education.”

Mr Woodhead had been an “indefatigable champion of higher standards and less political correctness in our schools” for many years, Mr Howard said.

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