Our farcical Education System

Once again, record numbers of GCSE pass results. Hundreds of students getting ten or more GCSE A* grades. The Government states the education system is not being dumbed down - but come on, we all know it is. When I was a grammar school girl only the most gifted of my school colleagues took ten or more 'O' levels - pupils generally destined for Oxbridge. Nowadays all and sundry achieve high passes and I, like the majority of people in this country, do not believe that pupils now are brighter than in previous decades. The Government may have pumped more money into the education system, but sadly the system itself has not improved. More students than ever leave school being unable to read or write properly. Subjects such as physics, chemistry and biology are not being taught as separate subjects in many schools and the number of pupils taking what are perceived to be difficult subjects is falling. Worthless subjects such as media studies and sociology are no doubt on the increase - but what use are they to future employers? During my previous career I would often be sent C.V.'s. The majority of people sending them could not spell, had only the most basic grasp of comprehension and grammar and yet would often claim to have twelve or more GCSE's Grade A or A*. It was extremely difficult to gauge how intelligent these applicants really were. I recently read a very interesting article by Chris Woodhead, a man who certainly knows what he is talking about. His article confirmed that the headmaster of one of Britain's top public schools asked all this sixth formers (who were likely to have a GCSE Grade A* in English) to undertake a further literacy test. Clearly the headmaster also had similar issues relating to his pupils' actual ability. But why should this be? I am sure twenty years or so ago the headmaster would have had no such problems. This Government really should try and sort the education system out for once and for all. A huge number of people simply have no confidence in it any more.