Pupils must be offered 'real choices', says Blair

Pupils must be offered "real choices" in their own education, Tony Blair said today as a shake-up of the exam system was unveiled by the Government.

Young people in every part of England are to get a chance to do the International Baccalaureate instead of A-levels by 2010, he said.

And a new A-star grade will allow the brightest pupils that stick to the traditional exam to demonstrate their ability.

"If we are serious about tailoring education to the needs of young people they should have real choices after 14," Mr Blair told an audience in Birmingham.

The changes were unveiled earlier by Education Secretary Alan Johnson as part of reforms designed to make the A-level more stretching.

£2.5 million is being provided to ensure that more schools and colleges offer the International Baccalaureate.

The Prime Minister also confirmed plans to double the number of city academies to 400 and to provide support for an additional 100 trust schools.

He was addressing the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, 10 years on from his speech pledging "education, education, education" would be the priorities of a Labour government.