Cambridge University academics 'to set maths A-levels' It is the first time a major university has stepped in since the Government announced earlier this year that it was creating new powers to allow academics to set A-levels. Ministers are also in advanced talks with other top Russell Group universities with a view to overhauling sixth-form qualifications in subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, English, foreign languages, history and geography, the Telegraph understands. IN PICTURES: Top universities for maths degrees The announcement - to be made on Wednesday by Michael Gove, the Education Secretary - follows plans to abolish GCSEs in favour of new-style qualifications in the core subjects. Reforms are likely to be opposed by teachers" leaders who have claimed that shifting powers towards universities ignores the thousands of school leavers who shun higher education in favour of the workplace. It has also been claimed that A-levels do not require significant revision after a number of small-scale changes in recent years. But Government sources warned that Cambridge's intervention proved that leading dons were unhappy with the standards of existing exams. A number of universities are already being forced to provide remedial catch-up lessons for first year undergraduates to bring them up to scratch. A source close to Michael Gove said: "It is vital we raise standards, raise ambition and get people who really understand subjects back in charge. It is incredibly exciting that some of the best mathematicians in the world want to fix A-level maths. This will spread understanding of teaching the deep problem-solving skills that are so vital to universities and businesses, and give many more pupils an advanced education. Cambridge's Department of Pure Mathematics has submitted a report to the Department for Education outlining how new-style maths A-levels should be structured. It claims that changes are needed because "the majority of the talented students which Cambridge is able to recruit do not have sufficient mastery of basic mathematics to enable them to confidently engage with anything other than routine problems." "Existing A-level curriculums treat topics superficially and the UK has lost the tradition of teaching school mathematics coherently and in depth," it adds. The effect on Cambridge is acute. The document, by Prof Martin Hyland, head of the department, suggests focusing A-levels around a series of "key mathematical ideas." This is likely to include complex numbers, trigonometry, combinatorics, probability and centres of mass. In a key change, it recommends creating "graded sets of problems" for bright teenagers. A major part of assessments will be addressed at all students, but Cambridge is proposing a "range of demanding questions to challenge the most able." Academics are pledging to "exploit the potential of the web" by making maths materials available online and creating a newly-constructed website for teachers" feedback. Mathematicians from other universities will be asked for their input into the new A-level, which will extensively trialled in schools. But the move is likely to lead to an overall delay to the introduction of new-style qualifications in the subject, with Cambridge suggesting they could take five years to develop. The Department for Education originally suggested it wanted new A-levels to be taught for the first time in 2014, although the Cambridge plan would rule out major changes until 2017 at the earliest. It is expected that minor revisions to existing A-levels will be made as an interim measure. The DfE said: "We do not have to do all subjects on the same timescale."