Sir Michael Wilshaw, the current head of Ofsted, has hit out at plans to abolish conventional GCSE examinations.

Recently, education secretary Michael Gove said that the UK would benefit in the long run if GCSEs were replaced by something more relevant to the lives of young people and the labour market in general.

Sir Michael, however, has objected to this idea, telling the Financial Times that it is possible to test the most capable students using the existing system.

The Ofsted boss voiced his support for the single exam system, but he added: "If a youngster gets a D or an E, we say that youngster is going to be very closely tracked.

"Come back and do it again ... A good school ... tracks the youngster through until they do achieve."

Employers, meanwhile, have bemoaned the fact that far too many young people leave the education system without basic skills, meaning they are unsuitable for full-time positions.

Capita - one of the leading permanent, part-time and supply teaching agencies in the UK.