The pilot GCSE in construction was scrapped last week after political pressure in favour of diplomas, said a senior education source.

The source said most assessment centres were unhappy with the decision, while schools this week hit out at the move.

James Dunning, a teacher in construction at Trinity School, Nottingham, said it was a “fantastic GCSE”. As a result, he said he was now considering a return to construction.

Edexcel, the awarding body for the GCSE, said it would “concentrate resources” on developing the Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment to complement its BTEC qualifications.

Postscript

Read ‘Government to spend £1bn on apprenticeships’ at www.building.co.uk/breakingnews