What is the new Advanced British Standard replacing A-Levels?

Published

2 years ago

October 5, 2023

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Rishi Sunak is shaking up the post-16 education system with a new qualification called the Advanced British Standard.

According to the government, this will be a “new Baccalaureate-style qualification” for 16 to 19 year-olds that would combine and replace A-Levels and T-Levels.

As part of the proposals, pupils will have to study maths and English up until 18, rather than 16.

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Downing Street has admitted introducing the reforms will take more than a decade to implement in full.

Here Sky News takes a look at how it will work.

What is the Advanced British Standard (ABS) ?

The ABS is a new qualification “that takes the best of A-levels and T Levels and brings them together into a single qualification”, the Department for Education (DfE) said.

Students will be able to study predominantly technical or academic components – or a blend of both.

What subjects will pupils have to take?

Under the ABS, most students would study a minimum of five subjects at different levels – either major or minor (for example, three majors alongside two minors).

A major would be the equivalent of 90% of an A-level. It is not clear how much a minor would be worth.

Every pupil would be required to study some form of maths and English until age 18.

In some cases students can take four subjects if they choose “to focus on a specific occupation”, giving them time to take industry placements.

This could include doing “double major” in their occupational specialism alongside a core major in their chosen sector, alongside two minors.

There would be potential for “further ‘stretch'” for those who want to take four majors – similar to those who take four A-levels now.

What about pupils who struggle with maths and English?

Most pupils will study maths and English at major or minor level, but for those who struggle there will be an option to study the basic level they need to succeed in work and life.

This could include an essay-based subject where pupils can demonstrate written communication and understanding of the English language.

While English and maths will always be a requirement, those that want to take an academic route don’t have to take technical subjects.

For example, a pupil could take three majors in history, French and English, alongside minors in maths and geography.

How will it be graded?

The government has not decided how the new system will be graded. The DfE said it will “consider this carefully” so that employers and universities can understand individuals’ achievement.

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Are there enough teachers?

Under the plans, teaching time would be increased to a minimum of 1,475 hours over two years, which would be an extra 195 hours or 15% more than now for most students (equivalent to two and half hours per week).

The government has announced an initial investment of £600m over two years to prepare for the standard.

This includes funding for a tax-free bonus of up to £6,000 per year for those teaching key shortage subjects who are in the first five years of their career.

When will it be introduced?

The government has said the plans will take over a decade to deliver in full.

Pupils starting primary school this term are expected to be the first cohort to take the new qualification, giving a possible implementation date of 2034/35.

A consultation document will be issued next autumn, followed by a white paper next year setting out the reforms and how they can be implemented in further detail.

But with a general election expected by the end of next year, it is not clear how this could ultimately pan out.

Education unions said the promises of bonuses will not be enough to address the severity of the teacher recruitment and retention crisis.

Labour has called the reforms undeliverable and said it will focus on raising standards in state education if it gets into power.

UK

Palace confirms dates of Trump’s state visit – as King and Queen to host him at Windsor Castle

Published

6 hours ago

July 14, 2025

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Palace confirms dates of Trump's state visit - as King and Queen to host him at Windsor Castle

The dates for Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK have been announced, with the US president due to be welcomed by the King from 17 to 19 September.

Buckingham Palace also confirmed that President Trump and first lady Melania will be hosted by the King and Queen at Windsor Castle.

It was expected that the three-day state visit would take place in September after Mr Trump let slip earlier in April that he believed that was when his second “fest” was being planned for.

Windsor was also anticipated to be the location after the US president told reporters in the Oval Office that the letter from the King said Windsor would be the setting. Refurbishment works at Buckingham Palace also meant that Windsor was used last week for French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit.

This will be Mr Trump’s second state visit to the UK, an unprecedented gesture towards an American leader, having previously been invited to Buckingham Palace in 2019.

He has also been to Windsor Castle before, in 2018, but despite the considerable military pageantry of the day, and some confusion around inspecting the guard, it was simply for tea with Queen Elizabeth II.

Further details of what will happen during the three-day visit in September will be announced in due course.

On Friday, Sky News revealed it is now unlikely that the US president will address parliament, usually an honour given to visiting heads of state as part of their visit. Some MPs had raised significant concerns about him being given the privilege.

But the House of Commons will not be sitting at the time of Mr Trump’s visit as it will rise for party conference season on the 16 September, meaning the president will not be able to speak in parliament as President Macron did during his state visit this week. However, the House of Lords will be sitting.

In February this year, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer presented the US president with the letter from the King inviting him to visit during a meeting at the White House.

After reading it, Mr Trump said it was a “great, great honour”, adding “and that says at Windsor – that’s really something”.

In the letter, the King suggested they might meet at Balmoral or Dumfries House in Scotland first before the much grander state visit. However, it is understood that, although all options were explored, complexities in both the King and Mr Trump’s diaries meant it wasn’t possible.

This week, it emerged that Police Scotland are planning for a summer visit from the US president, which is likely to see him visit one or both of his golf clubs in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire, and require substantial policing resources and probably units to be called in from elsewhere in the UK.

Precedent for second-term US presidents, who have already made a state visit, is usually tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle, as was the case for George W Bush and Barack Obama.

UK

Fireball at Southend Airport after small plane crashes

Published

14 hours ago

July 13, 2025

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Fireball at Southend Airport after small plane crashes

A small plane has crashed at Southend Airport in Essex.

Essex Police said it was at the scene of a “serious incident”.

Images posted online showed huge flames and a large cloud of black smoke, with one witness saying they saw a “fireball”.

A police statement said: “We were alerted shortly before 4pm to reports of a collision involving one 12-metre plane.

“We are working with all emergency services at the scene now and that work will be ongoing for several hours.

“We would please ask the public to avoid this area where possible while this work continues.”

It has been reported that the plane involved in the incident is a Beech B200 Super King Air.

According to flight-tracking service Flightradar, it took off at 3.48pm and was bound for Lelystad, a city in the Netherlands.

One man, who was at Southend Airport with his family around the time of the incident, said the aircraft “crashed headfirst into the ground”.

John Johnson said: “About three or four seconds after taking off, it started to bank heavily to its left, and then within a few seconds of that happening, it more or less inverted and crashed.

“There was a big fireball. Obviously, everybody was in shock in terms of witnessing it. All the kids saw it and the families saw it.”

Mr Johnson added that he phoned 999 to report the crash.

Southend Airport said the incident involved “a general aviation aircraft”.

Four flights scheduled to take off from Southend this afternoon were cancelled, according to its website.

Flightradar data shows two planes that had been due to land at Southend were diverted to nearby airports London Gatwick and London Stansted.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said four crews, along with off-road vehicles, have attended the scene.

Four ambulances and four hazardous area response team vehicles are also at the airport, as well as an air ambulance, the East of England Ambulance Service said.

Its statement described the incident as “still developing”.

David Burton-Sampson, the MP for Southend West and Leigh, posted on social media: “I am aware of an incident at Southend Airport. Please keep away and allow the emergency services to do their work.

“My thoughts are with everyone involved.”

Local councillor Matt Dent said on X: “At present all I know is that a small plane has crashed at the airport. My thoughts are with all those involved, and with the emergency services currently responding to the incident.”

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UK

Heidi Alexander says ‘fairness’ will be government’s ‘guiding principle’ when it comes to taxes at next budget

Published

21 hours ago

July 13, 2025

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Heidi Alexander says 'fairness' will be government's 'guiding principle' when it comes to taxes at next budget

Another hint that tax rises are coming in this autumn’s budget has been given by a senior minister.

Speaking to Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander was asked if Sir Keir Starmer and the rest of the cabinet had discussed hiking taxes in the wake of the government’s failed welfare reforms, which were shot down by their own MPs.

Trevor Phillips asked specifically if tax rises were discussed among the cabinet last week – including on an away day on Friday.

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Tax increases were not discussed “directly”, Ms Alexander said, but ministers were “cognisant” of the challenges facing them.

Asked what this means, Ms Alexander added: “I think your viewers would be surprised if we didn’t recognise that at the budget, the chancellor will need to look at the OBR forecast that is given to her and will make decisions in line with the fiscal rules that she has set out.

“We made a commitment in our manifesto not to be putting up taxes on people on modest incomes, working people. We have stuck to that.”

Ms Alexander said she wouldn’t comment directly on taxes and the budget at this point, adding: “So, the chancellor will set her budget. I’m not going to sit in a TV studio today and speculate on what the contents of that budget might be.

“When it comes to taxation, fairness is going to be our guiding principle.”

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Afterwards, shadow home secretary Chris Philp told Phillips: “That sounds to me like a barely disguised reference to tax rises coming in the autumn.”

He then went on to repeat the Conservative attack lines that Labour are “crashing the economy”.

Mr Philp then attacked the prime minister as “weak” for being unable to get his welfare reforms through the Commons.

Discussions about potential tax rises have come to the fore after the government had to gut its welfare reforms.

Sir Keir had wanted to change Personal Independence Payments (PIP), but a large Labour rebellion forced him to axe the changes.

With the savings from these proposed changes – around £5bn – already worked into the government’s sums, they will now need to find the money somewhere else.

The general belief is that this will take the form of tax rises, rather than spending cuts, with more money needed for military spending commitments, as well as other areas of priority for the government, such as the NHS.