Under-16s may not be ready for GCSEs says exams chief

The growing trend of entering pupils for exams before the usual age of 16 means youngsters do not get the "depth of learning" they need, according to Andrew Hall, chief executive of the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA).

He said that examiners' reports of the new style modular GCSE exams had revealed a downside to pupils taking exams early.

"A number of those have had comments in about... the relative immaturity of the answer and the lack of depth and understanding," said Mr Hall.

"There is concern (among examiners) that this is the youth of the student and the lack of preparedness.

"I am sure it is appropriate for some students to take these exams early but I am pretty sure it is not for everybody."

Mr Hall added: "Is this the beginning of people just not getting the depth of learning they need at GCSE, by doing it too early?

"It is time for the educational establishment to have a look at this before we go too far."

Some 25,000 entries for AQA exams alone this summer were from pupils aged 14 or younger. This figure does not include high entry English, maths, ICT and science where the modular exams have yet to be taken.

The Times Educational Supplement reported that Mr Hall believes the introduction of modular GCSEs may have accelerated the trend, as they let teachers enter pupils for a single module at a time, to check how they are progressing.

This summer's GCSE results have already shown that large numbers of pupils are sitting maths and English early.

Some 9.5 per cent of English results were from children aged 15 and under, while 10.9 per cent of maths entries were from the same age group.