I'm sure Michael Gove is already well aware of the points raised in the uproar against the EB, which started immediately after it was introduced.
It's a modern version of the old requirements for "matriculation" which I obtained in 1940. At the time, the requirement was to achieve credits in at least 5 subjects at the then School Certificate. Of the 5, english language and maths were obligatory. The PURPOSE was to establish a benchmark for further education. My other three were science, french and english literature. THIS DID NOT PRECLUDE OTHER SUBJECTS, including woodwork, from the overall syllabus. Of all these the most import during my career as an electical engineer turned out to be english language. It is of course THE most difficult subject. Try UNDERSTANDING the small print in a contract, or writing an unambiguous specification.
TONY MALIN