Gove confirms education quango to be axed by the autumn

In a letter to the QCDA's chairman Christopher Trinick, Gove said that he will be introducing legislation in the autumn to formally abolish the body, which is tasked with delivering, developing and assessing the national curriculum and monitor the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Gove's letter says that some of the QCDA's remit will still be carried out elsewhere in government. This includes the support it gives to schools surrounding national curriculum tests.

The move is part of the coalition government's pledge to dramatically reduce the number of quangos.

However, regarding the QCDA's development work on diplomas and exams he says, "my view is that government or its agencies should in principle not be involved in this kind of work in the future."

Ahead of the formal abolition he is ordering the QCDA to "withdraw as soon and as far as is practicable" with its work surrounding developing qualifications and the national curriculum.

The decision to axe the QCDA has been criticised by teaching union the NASUWT.

Chris Keates, NASUWT general secretary, said: "The seemingly arbitrary way in which the QCDA and other bodies are being culled without any critical analysis of the impact of removing these functions is not acceptable.

"The decision is not supported by any detail of how core functions undertaken by the QCDA will be carried out in future and at what cost."