In a letter to exam regulator Ofqual, published by the BBC, Mr Gove claimed that the current exam system was failing to properly prepare and equip students for university.

Ofqual head Glenys Stacey agreed with the assessment, while the NUT has cautiously welcomed the move, as long as there was a significant “culture change” in schools to go with it.

In the letter, Mr Gove wrote, "It is more important that universities are satisfied that A-levels enable young people to start their undergraduate degrees having gained the right knowledge and skills, than that ministers are able to influence content or methods of assessment.

"It is important that this rolling back allows universities… to drive the system.”

He adds that while current A-levels have “a lot to commend them”, they are falling short “of commanding the levels of confidence” he feels is needed.

NUT general secretary said that, while there was no harm in looking into A-level standards, "You can't decide to have a hands-off approach in one bit of the education system but attempt to dominate the whole of the rest of it. A-levels have to be seen as part of the education system."