Education secretary Lucy Powell has said she will “take forward” changes to the curriculum and exams, claiming current GCSEs are “a lot of pressure” for pupils. In her first interview since becoming education secretary, Powell told BBC Radio 5 Live she will “look at and take forward some changes to the curriculum and assessment system” and that she wants to “take the time to look at” exam time in relation to the current GCSEs on offer. But it is not clear whether Powell would make additional changes to those already accepted in the Starmer government’s curriculum and assessment review, which recommended a reduction in exam time. It comes after prime minister Andy Burnham announced local leaders will introduce technical education pathways for 14 to 16-year olds in schools. Pupils will be able to combine core academic subjects with technical education, employer projects and workplace experience from year 10. Again, it is unclear if this will involve re-opening the curriculum review, or simply using the reforms already proposed to encourage more vocational study. Downing Street said Ofsted will “change the way they measure and inspect schools” to ensure they “recognise the quality of technical education”. ‘A lot of pressure’ Speaking to the BBC, Powell said her daughter “did 25 exams in five weeks. And it’s a lot, isn’t it? It’s a lot of pressure. “The government’s just had this curriculum and assessment review, which is sitting on my desk at the moment, looking at some of these issues. “We’re going to look at that and take forward some changes to the curriculum and assessment system, so that it is fit for that for that world of work, and there are some things I think we can look at within that. “And I want to take the time to look at that in terms of the current GCSEs, but particularly again, what we’re talking about today are the complementary qualifications that might be suitable for more students to give you the skills that the future economy needs.” Powell added that the proposals were “not about lessening anyone’s aspirations about going to university, and actually we’ve seen real progress in our educational standards and outcomes in state schools over the last 20, 30 years. “But the sort of straitjacket of what we’ve put around all of that, this over focus on academic attainment, so that you have to take a certain number of GCSEs, certain number of academic subjects, is leaving some children behind, and that’s what we’re seeing coming through the numbers.” The curriculum and assessment review, chaired by Becky Francis, proposed a ten per cent reduction in exam time, a recommendation accepted by the government. ‘Big agenda’ Powell also discussed spelling, punctuation and grammar tests completed at the end of key stage 2, which she previously called “draconian”. “It’s not necessarily just about spelling… it’s think it’s about how we are equipping young people to be able to read, write and communicate, that’s what they need to be able to do. And assessments need to fit that, not the other way around.” Powell also addressed “criticism” from the sector about the technical education plans announced in the summer holidays, with little details on how they will work. “We haven’t got any specific proposals today that will themselves cost money. We’re going to work all that through,” she said. “It’s big ambition. It’s a big agenda. You don’t just do [it] in the middle of the summer holidays, as some of the sector have criticised us for, come up on your own in a room a huge, big, detailed plan. “This is about a big ambition, a clear direction of travel.”