Ministers gave approval this week to the merger of the two quangos which oversee the assessment and development of school and college academic and vocational qualifications, the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority and the National Council for Vocational Qualifications. They now have to name the new body before the proposal is included in an education Bill expected in October.
Gillian Shephard, the Education and Employment Secretary, agreed to press ahead with the merger. She ruled out further consultations at this stage.
