Political cowardice on A-levels is a betrayal of future generations

5.00.00pm GMT Thu 18th Aug 2005

Commenting on today's A-level results, Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary, Edward Davey MP said "Labour's political cowardice on A-level reform is a betrayal of future generations and will hit Britain's ability to compete. Today let's celebrate success and congratulate the students and their teachers on their achievements. There are many reasons for these better grades, but the most important are hard work and better teaching."

Lord Adonis, Labour's Schools Minister, emphatically ruled out any prospect of radical reform as he insisted that the government was "not in the business" of considering any other system - notably the English-style diploma it rejected earlier this year but which is still being demanded by employers, headteachers, universities and MPs.

The Liberal Democrats disagree and Ed Davey further said "Major reform of A-levels can't be ducked and Labour's refusal to act is the worst kind of political cowardice. Patching and mending a 50-year old exam system is not the answer. A diploma would stretch our brightest, broaden education and end the vocational-academic divide. When business, universities and independent schools all now back diplomas, Labour's failure to act is a national scandal."