Gove reveals plan for 'English Bac'

The “English Bac” would not replace GCSEs, but would be awarded to pupils who pass at least five of the exams, including English, maths, one science, one foreign language and one humanity, Mr Gove said.

He also revealed plans to “declutter” A-level courses, slimming down the number of modules and exams faced by students in order to allow them more time for extra-curricular pursuits such as art, music and sport, as well as “deep study” in their chosen subjects.

Mr Gove will publish a White Paper in the autumn which he said would “transform the accountability systems, the league tables, the whole qualification system in this country”.

He told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show he was “worried” by the decline in the number of students taking GCSE sciences and languages under the current system, which he said did not do enough to encourage breadth of study.

“That really concerns me not just because it is bad for our economic position in the future,” said Mr Gove, adding: “It is depriving young people of the things they should get from education, which is a rounded sense of how to understand this world in all its complexity and richness.

“If you don’t understand science and you don’t understand other cultures, you are deliberately cutting yourself off from the best that is going on in our world.”

Mr Gove said he was “very attracted” by the baccalaureate systems operated by many European and Asian countries which deliver a broader educational curriculum than the current system in England.

He said: “I would like to explore setting up a sort of English Baccalaureate. What that would involve is saying to students, ’You should be thinking about studying GCSE English, maths, a science, a modern or ancient foreign language and a humanity like history, geography, art or music’.

“If you get five GCSE passes in those areas, I think you should be entitled to special recognition.”

An English Bac would be the equivalent of the old School Leaving Certificate, showing that pupils have achieved the “broad, rounded education... which equips you for the modern world”, Mr Gove said.

“One of the concerns about the English education system is that people’s options are narrowed too early,” he continued.

“I think we need to learn from other countries.

“We have fallen behind other countries in the last few years educationally. I think instead of being nostalgic and saying things were better in the old days... we need to look forward to other countries that are doing better.”

Mr Gove made clear that he intends to retain A-levels, but said it was important to ensure they “remain a proper preparation for university”.

“There are parents who worry that what used to be a clear two-year run during the sixth form – when you had the chance to do sport and art and music as well as getting into deep study – has become cluttered up by too many modules, too many exams, which have led to too much time being spent weighing what you know and not enough time actually getting to grips with the subject,” Mr Gove said.

It has also emerged that 16 “free schools” will be ready to open their doors in September 2011.

Mr Gove rushed through legislation shortly after the election to pave the way for parents, charities and businesses to set up independent schools within the state system, and trumpeted the fact that 700 groups had expressed an interest in the idea.

He insisted he was “excited by the extent of interest” in the scheme, and said that the approval of 16 free schools to open next year was “well in excess” of his expectations.