YOUR headline, Children cannot even compete with their granddads on my letter last week, along with the size of the print, gave a spiteful touch to the whole thing, which was not my intention at all. I believe a lot of youngsters work very hard studying

YOUR headline, 'Children cannot even compete with their granddads' on my letter last week, along with the size of the print, gave a spiteful touch to the whole thing, which was not my intention at all.

I believe a lot of youngsters work very hard studying yet more diverse subjects to gain yet more qualifications to boost yet more league tables.

I am talking about a general reduction in the required levels.

By allowing these standards to continue to fall we are doing the students a disservice.

Nothing short of an independent review and restatement of the standards will do and the sooner the job is tackled the better.

A stable, trusted and fully recognised level gives a proper yardstick by which prospective employers and the rest of us can make judgements.

Best of all it gives the youngsters a real sense of achievement and spurs them on to even greater things.

The bright ones need encouraging too.

HARRY NICHOLLS

Church Road

Walsoken

Wisbech