TEACHERS in Southampton say they are concerned that the proposed reform of GCSEs will disadvantage pupils.

Under plans unveiled today by Education Secretary Michael Gove major changes to how the key subjects are taught have been announced.

The new GCSEs in English language, English literature, maths, biology, chemistry, physics, combined science, geography and history are due to be introduced in England in September 2015, with teenagers sitting the first exams in the summer of 2017.

The changes, which represent the biggest shake-up in a generation, will curtail re-sits and drastically cut back on coursework in most subjects and are likely to be seen by many as a return to traditional exams, similar to old-style O-levels.

Teachers in Southampton says they are concerned that putting too much emphasis on a single exam is not a fair reflection of how much a child had learnt.

Senior deputy headteacher at Bitterne Park secondary school Simon Riding said: “The concept of coursework is reflective of what most people in their working lives actually do.

“It is not the case that in the course of their jobs an employee would be expected simply to regurgitate information about a particular subject on one particular day.

“I don't think that sort of exam would be a fair reflection on how pupils apply the knowledge that they have learnt or reflects what they would be required to do during the course of their working lives.”

England's exams regulator Ofqual is also due to publish a separate consultation today setting out proposals to change the structure of GCSEs.

It is expected to contain plans to overhaul grades, with the current A*-G system axed and replaced by a numbered 8-1 scheme, with 8 representing the highest grade.

Education Minister Elizabeth Truss insisted that the reforms will end grade inflation and create ''a world-class system so we can compete in the global race''.

But Mr Riding rejected the claim that GSCE's had become 'easy to pass' saying teaching and standards had simply got better.

“Some 20 years ago the first GCSEs were introduced. Twenty years on we are now skilled and knowledgeable about delivering it. Standards have improved and there are more good and outstanding schools.”

He also called for assurances that the speed at which the new qualifications were due to be introduced would not disadvantage students.

“The students who will be taking these first exams are already being taught in this school in year eight. There is a new cirrculum being written which we have not yet seen, a new grading system being introduced that we have not yet seen and now these changes. We would need assurances that this is going to be delivered so that it doesn't disadvantage students because we simply have not been given enough time to adequately understand and teach it.”

Changes to the syllabuses include; English literature, pupils will be asked to study at least one play by Shakespeare, Romantic poetry, a 19th century novel, poetry from the 1850s onwards, and fiction or drama since the First World War.

The new maths GCSE features advanced algebra, statistics, ratio, probability and geometry, while those students who choose to take geography will undertake two different types of fieldwork which will be assessed in an exam.The changes will now be subject to consultation over the summer.