Letter: New curriculum's emphasis on grammar

Sir: I am amazed to see from the table of ages/attainment ('English teachers get new rules', 3 February) that the National Curriculum Council considers competence in basic punctuation to be achievable at age 16 years.

I received a disjointed education during the last war, attending eight different primary schools by the age of 10. Classes of more than 50 children were the norm, frequently interrupted by air raids.

Nevertheless, I achieved all the skills listed in your table upon leaving junior school at the age of 11, and was graded 'average' ability. A sad reflection of the decline of our state education system.

Yours sincerely,

ANN JOHNSON

Stamford, Lincolnshire