THE headteacher of Bolton’s top school has criticised the government’s latest proposals to overhaul GCSE exams as “missing the point”.

Philip Britton, headmaster of Bolton School Boys’ Division, one of the country’s best schools, said that an opportunity for reform was being wasted — and argued all that could change is letters being replaced by number grades.

Mr Britton, who is Vice President (Education) of the Institute of Physics, spoke out as the government prepared to publish is consultation on proposals for GCSE reform.

This is likely to include plans to axe coursework in the majority of subjects, curtail re-sits and overhaul the grading system — with the current A*-G system being axed and replaced by a numbered 8-1 scheme, with 8 representing the highest grade.

Ministers say that a radical overhaul of GCSE exams is needed to allow British students to compete academically with those in other countries.

Elizabeth Truss said the most widespread changes in a generation would end grade inflation and create "a world-class system so we can compete in the global race".

Mr Britton said: “The driver for GCSE reform is about standards and rigour and I would support that aim. However, once again, these latest proposals miss the point.

“Content does not produce rigour, good teaching and good assessment does.

“We have heard nothing about what assessment will be, just what it will not be in terms of coursework and modules.”

The headmaster wants to see the “marking crisis” tackled.

He added: “Real reform would involve asking hard questions about why we have exams at 16 at all nowadays.

“An opportunity for radical reform is being wasted. In the end it is quite possible all that will change is that eight letter grades will be replaced by eight numbers grades.”

Education Secretary Michael Gove announced there would be a major overhaul of GCSEs in England earlier this year, after ditching plans to replace them with English Baccalaureate Certificates.

Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said: "We have always agreed that it is the right time to look again at GCSEs.

"Where we have concerns is in the proposed syllabus. Simply making exams harder does not guarantee higher standards or mean that students will be prepared for a job at the end of it.”