It was Lord Dearing's report on the future of higher education, published just after the last election, which opened the way to tuition fees.

BBC: Blunkett feels tuition fees pressure

The revised AS-level, replacing the Advanced Supplementary exam, was one of the main recommendations arising from Lord Dearing's review of qualifications for 16 to 19 year olds.

BBC: Exam expert says 'too much testing'

Former education secretary Lord Baker is chairman of the Baker Dearing Educational Trust which promotes the introduction of UTCs.

BBC: Wiltshire