Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the criticisms of GCSEs by the High Master of St Paul’s School who was reported in the press on 18 August as saying that "one size doesn’t fit all" and that "the curse of GCSE is that the size on offer fits no one".

The government’s plan for education is designed to help every student, regardless of their background, develop the knowledge, skills and values to prepare them for life in modern Britain. That is why we are reforming GCSEs and A levels to be robust and rigorous, to match the best education systems in the world and to keep pace with universities’ and employers’ demands.

We have also introduced gold-standard technical and vocational qualifications, ensuring our young people can choose from a wide range of academic and vocational courses.

The government has consulted extensively with a range of educational stakeholders including the teaching sectors and employers.