The last thing Europe needs is the chaotic release of results for 91 banks, with national regulators privately disowning the conclusions and no plan for recapitalising firms that fail the exam.

ECONOMIST: European banks

Most Russian-speakers fear they will fail the language and culture exam, which remains in place under the new law.

ECONOMIST: Latvia votes for Europe

Setting out a "rapid response" to the data, Sir Michael promised the watchdog's survey would investigate fears that some of the brightest secondary school pupils are being let down by teachers who fail to stretch them to get the best exam results.

BBC: Ofsted chief voices fears for brightest pupils

Every year through to Grade 12, we sit three exams at the end of each term for every single subject, and the final term exam we have to pass (and pass it well), or we fail and we would have to repeat the year, while some of our friends move on.

BBC: Exam overload: Are you getting stressed out?