Much ado about nothing

I thoroughly enjoyed studying Shakespeare for my A-levels. Perhaps it was partly to do with my teacher, who was excellent, but I really got stuck into Old Will's plays and came out with an A grade, of which I remain very proud.

Every year at this time, there's the usual debate over whether exams are getting easier as more and more pupils achieve high grades with both A-levels and GCSEs.

However, today's headline in the Metro - 'Even monkeys' can get A-levels - which quoted a director of A-levels in the north west, went much too far in my opinion. Another teacher stated they were 'Mickey Mouse' and called the situation an "absolute shambles". Shame on these people for these unhelpful comments.

Yes, there are now double the number of A-level students who attain A grades compared to nearly 20 years ago, but the truth is the exam system has changed to be less about how much knowledge you can retain and how good your memory is to being much more about informed decision-making and creativity.

And surely this can only be a positive thing because that reflects much more fairly the way their future life and work will be.

Employees aren't generally asked to recall facts and figures on the spot in a smelly sports hall for three hours - but rather, in my experience, it's about quality research, knowing the best way to achieve results and how to be as creative as you can, working to a set deadline.

Having a modern, relevant exam system is the way forward and if that means teenagers are succeeding, then surely that's worth celebrating. Rather than throwing slings and arrows at them.

(Photo credit: C Carlstead)