England’s education secretary, Lucy Powell, wants schools to stop teaching GCSE topics to younger pupils, warning that the practice risks turning secondary schools into “early exam factories”, The Guardian reported Sunday.

Powell said introducing the subjects early was increasing disengagement from education, according to the report. Proposals to end the widespread practice will be included in an overhaul of England’s national curriculum.

The proposals concern when schools begin teaching GCSE material, rather than an announced change already in force.

Sources