England's regulator, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), is committed to phasing out the GNVQ by 2007.

BBC: Computer-related studies are often popular with boys

Just over a third got a grade C or above compared with the 74.2% getting the equivalent Intermediate GNVQ.

BBC: Computer-related studies are often popular with boys

Another problem was that some GNVQ results for about 350 schools arrived too late to be included in the data.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | Ofsted reports omitted top grades

Statisticians divided students' into groups based on the number of points they achieved in their GCSE exams or GNVQ equivalents.

BBC: Assessing the value schools add

But it has given a warning that the Intermediate GNVQ makes "an important contribution" towards government targets for school achievement.

BBC: Computer-related studies are often popular with boys

That is, from the tests they took as 11 year olds at the end of primary school, to when they sit their GCSE or GNVQ exams.

BBC: Work in progress

New courses for all A-level and Advanced GNVQ subjects have been written and a brand new exam called the AS or Advanced Subsidiary will give pupils an extra qualification.

BBC: classroom scene

That is basically communication and information technology and as it is already part of the GNVQ courses offered mostly in secondary schools , those schools feel they are better prepared than the grammars.

BBC: classroom scene