ANOTHER year...and nothing seems to change over A-levels: the kids work hard, their results reach record levels, and the critics rise to the bait and complain that the exams are no longer relevant and question whether they are actually getting easier.
All this does is to leave the public wondering how employers and universities can differentiate between students when they all turn up with a fistful of A-grade passes. And the more suspicious among them will wonder why it is that the pass rates are
continually improving - that is simply not the way things happen in the real world.
But if A-levels are to be branded as flawed, then that argument should be held at another time. It certainly should not be allowed to cast a shadow over today when we ought to be congratulating this year's students.
Let's hear more agreement, gentsNOW, here's something you don't come across every day - Labour MPs and the Lib Dem Leader of the city council agreeing. Richard Caborn, Clive Betts and Paul Scriven are scratching their heads in disbelief at the report which suggests the regeneration of northern cities is simply not working and people in this neglected neck of the woods should get on their bikes and head for the southern land of milk and honey.
And to make matters even more confusing, the report - by a Tory-backed think tank - is even disowned by Con-servative leader, David Cameron who, it must be said, will be deeply embarrassed by the suggestion which simply confirms prejudices of an ever-widening north-south divide.
Of course, nothing will come of this piece of nonsense - in much the same way many think tank musings are driven up dead ends.
But the pity is that these highly influential figures cannot find similar common ground on matters which actually do affect people's lives. Let's spend more energy on helping the public rather than on point-scoring in as public a manner as possible.
Come on, gents. Speaking in agreement may not be as amusing but it's a lot more mature.
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FeaturesMore Rotherham newsMore Doncaster newsMore Barnsley newsCheck out the very latest on South Yorkshire's roads - including live traffic cameras on Sheffield's commuter routes - with our Traffic sectionLatest sport. The full article contains 402 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
