At present, more than 70% of the working population have reached GCSE level or the equivalent.

BBC: 'One in four people' in education

Courses will only be able to count as equivalent to one GCSE - not up to six as at present.

BBC: Many vocational courses axed from league tables

There are many other qualifications, such as the Diploma in Digital Applications (Dida) taken in many schools in place of an information technology GCSE, which counts as equivalent to four GCSEs in the school league tables in England.

BBC: Qualifications glossary