Plans to reform British exams are less drastic than had been rumoured, but will still mean an upheaval in schools.
 
At the end of June, a scheme to transform the exams most British pupils sit at the age of 16 was leaked to the press. The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is now broadly thought too easy.
 
This is due to the ever-rising number of pupils awarded top marks. The case for more rigorous exams is strong. British pupils' performance in international tests has lagged even as the proportion passing GCSEs has risen.