MOVES to change a number of GCSEs and A-Levels from 2017 have been criticised by education leaders in East Lancashire.

Schools minister Nick Gibb has launched a public consultation on revised subject content for seven GCSEs and five A-Levels.

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The GCSE subjects that could be changed are astronomy, business, economics, engineering, geology, psychology and sociology.

The AS and A-Level consultation includes design and technology, environmental science, history of art, music technology and philosophy.

Responses from teachers, students, subject associations, parents and other parties must be in by September 24.

Xavier Bowers, headteacher at Mount Carmel RC High School in Accrington, said that the moves could lead to a ‘total reworking’ of teacher’s plans similar to the core GCSE changes recently.

He said: “If the changes are as big as previously announced for other GCSEs then schools will have to really re-think how they approach these subjects .”

The National Union of Teachers in Lancashire has also criticised the plans arguing that schools do not know whether they are ‘coming or going’.

Simon Jones, who represents the union in the county, said: “It seems to me that this is yet another example of political interference in education.

“The curriculum should be in the hands of the professionals who know the schools and the students .”

The results of the consultation and the department’s response will be published this winter.

In a written ministerial statement to Parliament, the schools minister said the consultation represents an ‘important step in the third phase of GCSE and A-Level reform’.

Mr Gibb said: “ We are reforming GCSEs and A levels to be more rigorous and more knowledge-based and to match the qualifications used in the best education systems in the world.”