Children are being encouraged to sit their GCSEs early as schools 'play the system' in order to boost league table rankings, Britain's biggest exam board has revealed.

A growing number of pupils are said to be sitting exams in core subjects at Christmas, rather than in May or June in an attempt to maximise scores and give them a 'second chance' at attaining a grade C if they fail in the winter.

Despite record GCSE results this summer, with 23.2 per cent of pupils now achieving an 'A' grade, critics have suggested that encouraging students to sit two sets of high profile examinations could be damaging to their morale whilst increasing the amount of pressure they are already under.

Andrew Hall, Chief Executive of the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) commented: "Our research indicates that significant numbers of students take the exam in the winter and then retake it in the summer. It might not be in our best economic interests - and it will certainly be bad for students' education - if they are being entered too early and for the wrong reasons."

Schools are appearing to place a greater emphasis on league tables following a Government warning that if they fail to ensure half their pupils gain agrade C or above in at least five subjects, they could be liable to closure by 2015, The Telegraph reports.

In the last year alone, the number of winter applicants for English exams increased by a third, whilst almost a quarter of Mathematics pupils sat their exams early. Schools are said to be encouraging the number of early applicants in order to 'bank' suitable grades and improve the reputation of the school. Brian Lightman, General Secretary of the Association of Schools and College Leaders (ASCL) commented:

"Schools are under huge pressure to make sure students achieve at least C grades at GCSE which creates the perverse incentive to enter them for exams early. There are students for whom early entry is the right move, but schools and students should make this decision based on what is right for the individual not because of Government accountability measures."

The Government are also said to have condemned the practise, commenting that parents should be wary of schools that suggest students should take their GCSEs early.

We recently spoke to Katie, a Year 11 student to find out if she felt that exams were getting easier. To read Katie's blog, click here .

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