Gloucestershire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire are all upper-level authorities in a two-tier system with district councils like Cheltenham, Tamworth, Wyre Forest and Stratford-on-Avon underneath them.

BBC: Elections to show why county councils count

Monday's briefing will also confirm that Mr Gove has dropped plans for a two-tier exam system - with more academically-able students taking an O-level type exam and the rest taking an easier test.

BBC: GCSE exam changes to be announced by Michael Gove