Ofqual to review exams cost

There is to be a review into the efficiency of the UK exams system by the new regulator, the government has announced.

Children's secretary Ed Balls has agreed to the review after a report for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) revealed that examinations cost England, Wales and Northern Ireland £700 million each year.

"It is important to ensure value for money for the substantial amounts of public money that are spent on qualifications," Mr Balls wrote in a letter to the QCA.

Last week, the report, which was carried out by Europe Economics, warned that exam system was likely to have become more inefficient and cautioned that the burden on tax payers will increase unless steps are taken.

Dr John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, admitted that the system could be made more efficient, but called for savings to be balanced by the impact they would have on teaching and learning.

The review will be the responsibility of the newly-formed Ofqual, the new independent regulator which aims to maintain fairness and quality in the examinations system.