Comment: exam pressure

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The employers' organisation, the CBI, has made it clear that it sees the new qualification for schoolleavers - diplomas - as being potentially counterproductive. Diplomas relating to employment subjects are one thing - employers helped to formulate them. But, as CBI chief Richard Lambert points out, those in academic subjects are quite another matter and may result in two-tier system, whereby independent schools stick with academically proven A-levels, while state schools offer diplomas. As he says, ministers should "concentrate on making sure GCSE's and A-levels give young people the skills and knowledge to succeed".

These remarks will be annoy Ed Balls, the schools secretary, who has made clear that he would like diplomas to replace A-levels. But the criticisms make complete sense. Employers do not need a plethora of qualifications to choose from; they need to know that the examinations young people do take are worthwhile. It is entirely characteristic of the Government to have devoted so much energy to fiddling with the qualifications system rather than on the quality of teaching in schools. Gordon Brown today makes a major speech about the importance of social mobility. But as he knows, only better education can deliver it - not moving the deckchairs in the exam system.