Ofqual will not publish detailed modelling that informed a key curriculum review policy to reduce the time pupils spend taking GCSE exams by around three hours. The exams regulator provided the Francis review with advice that the reduction 鈥 which works out as cutting 10 per cent of exam time on average 鈥 was 鈥渇easible with current content levels鈥 for the average student taking eight or nine GCSEs. Bridget Phillipson, education secretary, told the Commons that has 鈥渂een clear鈥 the reduction 鈥渋s more than achievable while at no point compromising the integrity or the high quality and standards of the system鈥. Bridget Phillipson But when asked by Schools Week to provide the analysis, the regulator refused. They added it does not routinely publish technical regulatory advice submissions which is 鈥渟tandard practice for policy development processes鈥. Ofqual said it would be transparent about its regulatory approach as the reform programme develops, including through consultation and stakeholder engagement. But Saqib Bhatti, shadow education minister, said: 鈥淥fqual must publish the evidence behind Labour鈥檚 exam reduction proposals so we can see their full impact.鈥 The review found students in England typically sit between 24 to 31 hours of external exams. Only pupils in Singapore, which has topped international league tables for attainment, spend as many hours sitting exams. The review points exam time is 16 hours in Ireland, 18 hours in New Zealand and just 10 hours in Canada. ‘We must maintain reliability’ The Francis review also said, in combination with its recommendations on curriculum content, they believe it may be possible to go further than cutting 10 per cent. But it must be done 鈥渨hile maintaining high levels of reliability and without a negative impact on fairness, system resilience, students鈥 experience, and teaching and learning鈥. On how it could be achieved, Francis told Schools Week: 鈥淚t depends, subject by subject to some extent, which ironically will probably mean that in practice, some kids are affected more than others.鈥 But Bhatti said the government鈥檚 plans to cut exams 鈥渞isks undermining鈥 fairness 鈥渁nd weakening standards鈥. However, Phillipson told the Today programme that 鈥渕any other high performing countries have fewer hours in terms of exams than we will be at even by the end of this process鈥. Myles McGinley, managing director at Cambridge OCR exam board, said the plan will 鈥渓ikely mean shorter exams, rather than fewer exams overall鈥. Claire Heald, chief executive at The Cam Academy Trust, said the reduction will 鈥渉opefully enable more flexibility, choice and support for learners, particularly the vulnerable鈥.