The Advanced British Standard is at least 10 years away and probably won’t happen at all – and yet it is still distracting government from the real priorities that need addressing now, says Pepe Di’Iasio
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I doubt whether the Advanced British Standard – the government’s only idea for education – is at the top of your in-tray.

To recap, this is the plan to replace A levels and T levels with a baccalaureate-style post-16 qualification.

But you’re probably far more worried about the here and now – staff shortages, lack of funding, a crisis in SEND provision, behaviour, and attendance issues.

The prospect of a reform to qualifications that is at least 10 years away and probably won’t actually happen at all is not even a dot on the horizon.

Nevertheless, a team of civil servants is working on the ABS and the proposals are going through a laborious consultation exercise.

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