BBC News Online: Education

More pupils take GCSEs early

Last year, 26,956 teenagers took the exams early, compared with 21,443 in 1999 and 19,196 in 1998.

While some regard these figures as good news, indicating a rise in pupils' attainment, others argue that children should not be pushed too far too soon.

The case of Sufiah Yusof, the 15-year-old Oxford University student, who ran away last summer, claiming she had been pushed too hard by her father, again raised the question of whether bright pupils should be accelerated academically.

Benefits

Mike Ryde, managing director of Ryde College, near Watford in Hertfordshire, said taking GCSEs a couple of years early was beneficial, because pupils then avoided having to sit ten GCSEs at the same time.

"If they start taking them from the age of eight or nine, when they are ready, that gives them goals throughout their academic career - I think that would be much nicer for them.

"Let children run with their instincts, progress at their own rate as opposed to the prescribed rate," he said.

Flexible exam system

General secretary of the Secondary Heads' Association, John Dunford, said: "I want to see children taking exams when they're ready for them".

"There should be a greater degree of flexibility in the examination system so that pupils are not facing a huge hurdle at 16 and 18," Mr Dunford said.

But he did not want to see excess pressure on pupils to take exams early, as this could cause unnecessary stress for bright children.

"I do not want to see an atmosphere in which bright children feel they've failed if they don't take their exams early," he added.