Responding to the Chancellor's announcement this afternoon that plans for an Advanced British Standard qualification will be scrapped, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“The Advanced British Standard was announced by the former Prime Minister without any consultation with or input from the profession, and NAHT did not believe it would provide a qualification offer which met the needs of all students, The previous government’s proposals lacked ambition and were an expensive repackaging of the current A levels and T levels, creating blunt choices for 16-year-olds.

“School leaders also raised significant concerns about the proposals to reshape 16-19 qualifications in light of the much more pressing concerns in the education system. Recruitment and retention, supporting students with SEND, the crumbling school estate – these are just some of the crises facing education which our members believe should be prioritised above qualification reform.”