Curriculum 2000 branded a failure.

EDUCATION watchdogOfsted yesterday delivered another hammer blow toA and AS-Levels, saying theGovernment's attempt to make sixth formers take a broader range of subjects had largely failed.

Under Curriculum 2000 introduced that year, students were expected to take up to five subjects at AS-Level,beforefocusing on three subjects at A2, the second half of the new-look A-Level.

But Ofsted chief inspector David Bell said: ``Curriculum 2000 has achieved much less than intended. The range of subjects taken has not broadened significantly, and the scope of teaching within subjects has narrowed, as teachers have concentrated on course specifications.''