Education chiefs consider pros and cons of Ebacc for Island

The Isle of Man won't automatically follow England in replacing GCSEs with the new English Baccalaureate Certificate.

Officials at the Department of Education and Children are waiting to see how UK Education Secretary Michael Gove's plans to abandon GCSEs in English, maths and science are received politically and by teachers, before deciding whether to introduce the new system in the Isle of Man..

Mr Gove wants to sweep away course work assessments and modular exams in favour of 'one-hit' three-hour exams.

The Ebaccs as they've been named will have a new grading system 1 to 6, although it's unclear how this will compare with the current A*- G scale.

Paul Craine is Co ordinating Advisor for 11-19 Education.

He says the Island doesn't have to follow the new English system: