Letter: Not all bad news
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: As a senior examiner and recently retired deputy head, I have read the recent educational articles and leaders in your newspaper with increasing exasperation. From them, who would have thought that the past decade has seen substantial increases in pass rates at both GCSE and A-level, similar startling advances in the staying-on rate post-16, and a much greater number of young people gaining university places?
All this, it would seem, is failure because we have not caught up with Germany, France and Japan (after having, in England, at least, until very recently thought that only the top 20 per cent of the school population were really worth educating, a belief that appears to die hard in the continuing nostalgia for grammar schools).
It is small wonder that many teachers in state schools look upon politicians and journalists, particularly those who are London-based, with cynicism. A debate about perceptions of the London educational scene - and no doubt of pressing concern for those politicians and journalists as parents - is being transposed to the country as a whole, and very real advances are being dismissed as retreats.
Yours sincerely,
Neil Roberts
Leicester
30 January
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments