Michael Gove's plans for the Universities to have more say (well 22 of them) in the content of A levels beggars belief.
First, what is wrong with the Baccalaureate examinations which offer a much wider and tougher spread of subjects?
Secondly, without the equivalent of an Ofsted for Universities, we do not want them to do more. Their Napster moment is almost upon them. They need major reforms not a market for higher fees. We should have asked What Are Universities for? and then decided how we were going to pay for them
Thirdly, we need to stop students applying for universities whilst at school. We need to make sure that when they apply they have their results. So, by default we should introduce a compulsory gap year which should include an element of social service in it.
We do not need a narrowing of academic A levels. We do need a 14-19 ladder of opportunity for our students not this mess.