Call for new primary school exam system

Children as young as nine could study a wide range of subjects for a new qualification in state primary schools, a leading think-tank will suggest today.

The Institute for Public Policy Research says that primary school pupils could be freed from the national curriculum in their last two years to follow up their "passions" – such as art, drama or even self-defence or first aid.

The proposal for a "Primary Baccalaureate" fits in with the declaration by Charles Clarke, the Secretary of State for Education, that all primary and secondary schools should have the right to ditch the national curriculum and set their own pay scales for teachers – if their standards are high enough.

The institute, which is holding a policy seminar with heads from 40 primary schools today to see if they will pilot-test it, believes the scheme could be running in schools within two years.

* Figures to be published today will show a 7 per cent rise to 31,000 in the number of people who started teacher training courses in September.