Gove accused of 'U-turn' over controversial O-level plan It would more than double the number of primaries subjected to the controversial intervention plan from 220 now to more than 500 within the next few years, it emerged. Addressing a conference staged by The Spectator magazine, Mr Gove said it would "tackle the entrenched culture of under-achievement in parts of the country where children are being failed." "These are parts of the country where children are being let down, year after year after year," he said. It would be morally reprehensible to allow this situation to continue any longer, and we will not allow it. In further comments, Mr Gove also vowed to press ahead with a large-scale overhaul of GCSEs. Last week, he faced a political backlash after leaked plans suggested he wanted to scrap the qualifications - sat by 600,000 teenagers a year - in favour of tough O-level style exams. It was revealed that a minority of struggling pupils would take easier CSE tests, prompting claims from the Liberal Democrats of a dangerous "two-tier" system. Speaking today, Mr Gove denied a Coalition rift over the plans by suggesting that every child would have the chance to sit the more rigorous qualification. The Education Secretary - who was also required to defend his plans in the Commons as part of an Opposition Day debate - suggested that children who fail to take O-levels at 16 would be able to sit them at 17 or 18 as they progressed. Aides later said these pupils may also sit lower-tier tests earlier in their school career, adding that the plans were still under detailed discussion and would be subjected to a full consultation later in the summer. Mr Gove said that GCSEs had been "losing their value over time" after being dumbed down by Labour politicians and exam boards to give the false impression that improved results equalled higher standards. "Other nations asked more of their schools, we asked less," he said. As other countries gave their children more knowledge, we gave ours less. But Stephen Twigg, the Shadow Education Secretary, said: "The omni-shambles has become an O-level-shambles. Labour was the first to oppose the planned return to the two tier system, so this apparent U-turn will be a welcome relief to many families. Following the outcry over his proposals, Michael Gove appears to have been forced into changing his mind, but parents, pupils and teachers will remain totally confused as to what exams will be taken in 2015.