When, in the intervening years, did 14 become 16?
1953 Danny, in a rebranding process GCE was introduced with single subject passes. No longer requiring 5 passes to qualify and the minimum age abolished. The guidelines were that a school could enter any pupil they considered would achieve a pass regardless off age.
My school followed this advise very conservatively and I was only entered in 5 subjects all of which I passed. However they made us sit the full quota of 10 for practice. The other 5 papers being marked in house of which I "passed" at least a couple. Now comes the hard bit the school maintained a standard of 6 passes to enter the sixth form so I was obliged to repeat the 5th form.