A DEBATE surrounding the controversial introduction of A* A level grades has prompted one South Lakeland head teacher to question the validity of the entire system.

Steve Holdup of Dallam School believes A Levels have become devalued over the years and is pushing for a widespread uptake of the International Baccalaureate Qualification.

“IB upholds a standard that admissions tutors can rely on and also provides a breadth of study that, unfortunately, A Level discourages,” said Mr Holdup, who introduced IB at Dallam School last year. “The question is not whether A level should have an A* because A and B are no longer as scarce as they were, but why on earth is England virtually the only place where students are not prepared for university by studying at least their own and another language, maths, science and a social study?”

Favoured by many independent schools, IB is an internationally recognised qualification, which sees students cover six subject groups –language, foreign languages, individual and societies, maths and computer science, environmental science and environmental science.

“A level students will narrow their choice of subjects even further in order to get the A* grades they need,” Mr Holdup said. “This in turn, will make them less attractive still universities and employers than if they had a modern qualifications such as the IB.”

The government’s decision to bring in A* grades in 2010 responds to concerns from universities, which have found it increasingly difficult to determine exceptional sixth-formers due to a surge in candidates with straight As.

It sparked mixed responses from colleges and universities, with Cambridge and Imperial College London accept the grade and Oxford and other leading universities rejecting it.

To achieve an A* grade, students will be required to gain 90 per cent in examinations.

Many teachers fear it will be difficult to predict who will achieve A* grades, making it confusing for students applying to university based on predicted grades.

However, the majority of South Lakeland schools have not reported any problems with this year’s application process.

Liz Samuel, deputy head of sixth form at Queen Katherine School in Kendal, said: “I do not think it will make a great difference at state schools. Universities receive the raw marks as well as the overall grades and historical analysis has shown the majority of state school candidates had the equivalent of A* grades.”

She said it was good exceptional students would receive recognition for their talents, but unfair for equally capable candidates who miss out on the grade by a few marks and jeopardise their place at university.

Cathy O’Neill, assistant head teacher at Queen Elizabeth School at Kirkby Lonsdale, said: “Preparing students well for exams and giving them careful and considered advice with university applications is all part of the exciting process, and so far this has not had a huge impact on student choices.”

A spokesperson from the Department of Children, Schools and Families said: