Exams could be replaced by artificial intelligence in the future, a private school chief has predicted.

GCSEs can be a “very dry diet” for some students, according to Mike Buchanan, executive director of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC) which represents 296 of the country's leading private schools, including Eton College and Harrow School.

He said elite private schools could trial new technologies to see what works, and then the model could be rolled out nationally. “There are a dozen HMC schools using AI systems and more that are seriously looking at it,” he said. “And there are dozens of schools around the world doing it.”

Rather than being awarded grades for individual GCSEs, 16-year-old students could in the future be given performance reports which contain far more detailed information about their abilities.

“Rather than a grade summarising your ability in science, it might be that it is much more precise,” Mr Buchanan said.

“A report could talk about your knowledge of science but also your capacity to hypothesis, to assimilate and synthesise evidence, and your ability to present orally.

“Employers need to know what someone is going to be like in the workplace, and we just don’t have that in GCSE certificates.”