In view of the importance of this issue, I am copying this letter to Edexcel and to the Joint Council for General Qualifications.

BBC: Heads' letter warns of AS-level confusion

According to figures from the Joint Council for General Qualifications - which compiles figures for all exam boards in Wales - 59.7% of all entries passed the exams with grade C or above.

BBC: Girls' dominance continues in Wales

There have been General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQs) with the same name, though the full awards were passed by only about 2, 000 students a year around the UK - almost all boys.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | Students offered GCSE in building