Ministers to lose exams influence

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

A new watchdog will be set up as soon as possible to monitor exam standards, stripping ministers of their role in the process.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls announced the move in a bid to restore trust in the system and end the annual accusations that exams are not "what they used to be".

Teachers welcomed the plan to silence the "whingers" but warned that the real problem schools face is too much testing.

Addressing the Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth, Mr Balls said: "I want parents, universities, employers and young people themselves to be confident that exam standards are being maintained."

Currently, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority watchdog reports to ministers on whether exams standards have been maintained.

But those same ministers are responsible for making sure exam results continue to rise every year.

Mr Balls acknowledged that this situation can make it more difficult to convince the public that A-levels and GCSEs are just as difficult as they always were.

The Government likened the proposals for a new watchdog to the decision to grant independence to the Bank of England in 1997.

QCA chief executive Ken Boston said he had always believed that reporting to ministers on exam standards had been "inappropriate".