There is every potential for GCSEs to be phased out over the next ten years, the shadow education secretary has said.

In an interview with the Guardian, Tristram Hunt said a Labour government would look at replacing these qualifications with a single baccalaureate.

This he explained would bring together academic and technical education, which have long been divided.

“It is a big, hairy conversation that you have to begin early and then shape some of the discussion around,” he told the newspaper.

“I would hope by the end of a five-year parliament there was a consensus about creating a 14-19 curriculum and qualification framework, and I would not be surprised, or indeed saddened, if that meant in a decade’s time we were beginning to phase out GCSEs.”

Mr Hunt, who is currently MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central in Staffordshire, also outlined other ideas he would bring to the table if he were to be education secretary.

This includes getting schools to extend their hours between 8am and 6pm. This, he elaborated, will allow professionals - musicians, chefs and scientists - to come in and help children and young people develop wider skills.

Last week, in a similar interview with the Independent on Sunday, Mr Hunt was unequivocal in his enthusiasm for technical and vocational education.

Indicative of this is his plan to push through an Education and Skills Bill during the first 100 days of government.

“There is an interesting cultural shift at the moment,” he said. “I still want kids from Stoke-on-Trent to go to the best universities they possibly can, if that’s the pathway they want.

“But I also want them to get apprenticeships at BAE or Rolls-Royce. I went to visit Marylebone School for Girls in north London, a very high-performing state secondary beloved of many professional families.”