I read a book called German in 3 months supplied with tape. I spoke to the locals when I had the chance.

I did not take any languages at O level back in 86.

There is no escapping the fact that the GCSE was a doddle!!!

I also think that the year I took it, Summer 1998, there was still no such thing as an A* at GCSE as rampant grade inflation was still not in full force.

Scientific thought was the fruit of the Enlightenment of the 18th century and that is a one off: you cannot demystify religious superstition twice!
Today, thanks to Einstein, science itself seems to becoming a lot more mystical and indeed so do a lot of people too. Bending light, black holes, string theory, several new dimensions! Whatever next! Socially, hippies led to New Age and now we have materialism as our creed. Religion (go to any Church/Mosque and look in UK at the moment) seems to be on its last legs.
Could that be why science has died out too? It has had its day. James Watt, George Stephenson, self improving amateurs would not, I think, have survived the Comprehensive system. In the Private sector,, of course, they would have been either Media People, Celebs or Lawyers!

Japan, China and India recognise the importance of science in the 21st century and are now engaged in a new version of the Apollo space race- with permanent exploration, development and, in time, settlement , of the New Frontier.

We have neglected these developments in favour of funny money and trashy celebrity. Until we value science, exploration and build a meaningful human space programme of our own, we will decline further, and, according to the principles of Darwin, will deserve to do so!

Historians will not wonder how we could afford it, but rather how on Earth we ever thought we could afford NOT to .

Humankind will , in coming generations, create a cosmic Diaspora or become extinct. Our grandchildren and their descendants deserve a future.

I think i have found the source of the manipulation.

Surely the purpose of grades is to provide a comparison with other students.

At most only 50% should recieve C or above, ideally more like 30% in my opinion.

There is no purpose to grading if the boundries are not distributed properly.

Technically then it is correct to say exam results are improving, which people equate with improving standards, but under New Labour making that small leap would be foolish.

In most state schools now, you can only take the single or double science awards – you can’t do the three sciences separately.

This was only of the principal reasons why I didn’t send my daughter to one of the comprehensives in John Redwood’s constituency and instead pay for her to go to an independent school (something I really can’t afford). It’s a disgrace that they take my taxes and can’t provide a decent scientific education.

Some may only want to take Biology at GCSE and use their extra lesson for other subjects that suit their plans for the future. Some could choose Physics and Chemistry and drop Biology, it is a shame this can’t be accommodated and they have to take the double award.

HJ my son was very disappointed that the Physics A level didn’t involve more maths too.

When I asked the teacher why this was, she said that it was because physics was considered either desirable or necessary for many degree courses, but that many students didn’t have the mathematical ability – the specific example she gave was medicine. So the syllabus has been changed to suit those students who won’t really be using physics at university, to the detriment of those that will, e.g. scientists and engineers.

Physics without mathematical content is a nonsense.

For heavens sake, children who want to do science should be given the best opportunities to study them separately at GCSE level, rather than stuffing them all together. The UK has superb universities just waiting to take in bright young people who have the potential to become great researchers, inventors, developers or whatever you wish. But they won’t get them when the curriculum is watered down to tripe. Universities are already having to teach extra maths to get science students up to scratch, before proceeding…..the UK is killing science; WHY?

Reply: Selection by streaming, setting and special schools is all part of a healthy educational system. I believe in allowing choice and experiment.

The extra bits to make it into Biology, Chemistry and Physics, were just more of the same, further modules. Nothing there to stretch a childs mind, no more experiments, field trips or dissections. Incredibly it might even count against him for application to medical school as they often look at grade average, so 2 A’s at double science would count for more than 2 B’s and a A at triple science.

I agree that a lot of social studies has made it into “science” courses, indeed as a Lecturer at Medical School I was surprised at how much is happening in the medical course.

Debate without real understanding of the subject might as well be a discussion in the pub. Much of the discussion of global warming by both sides is just this. If the conclusion is decided in advance and only supporting evidence is considered, then it is not science it is rhetoric.

For those who haven’t seen it at some point the mixture in the can reaches the point where for every 2 hydrogen molecules there is 1 oxygen.

PS I know a man, who has an excellent track record and who is currently looking round for a job, who would be outstanding in that school. I wrote to the Head, not expecting very much, actually.
And that is exactly what I have so far got – not even a reply. (I copied it to the Deputy Head Fleet for good measure too and delivered it by hand, so I know it arrived).