As recently as March this year, John O’Dowd indicated that he would not simply follow England in making major changes to GCSEs.
However, the announcement of a new English Baccalaureate for England has now prompted the North’s minister to say his counterpart’s actions “may well have fatally flawed the GCSE brand”.
With a consultation due to end soon on A levels in England, experts suggest that Mr O’Dowd might now seize the opportunity to look at all qualifications for pupils aged 14 to 19. The minister too is hinting that a review may come soon.
While he is disappointed that education secretary Michael Gove did not consult the devolved administrations in advance, he says he will publish his own proposals in the near future.
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