IT is fast approaching time for the kids to go back to school. Many 11-year-olds will be taking the big step from junior schools to “The Big School”. This was something I was quite nervous about 55 years ago.

Listening to a programme on BBC Radio 4 recently, some teachers said that many children making this move will not be able to use a knife and fork for their meals, because most of their life they have eaten “hand food” — burgers, pizzas and chips.

For some children it will be the first time they have worn shoes, having had trainers previously, so the tying of shoelaces may come as a challenge. The children of today may not be able to write legibly, having previously used a computer.

In the next five years these children will have to cram in and learn a massive amount of information. I would like to reassure them that none of it will be wasted. Almost on a daily basis I use subliminal information learnt at school. It’s there in the back of my mind, and hey presto, back in use again — even geometry was used this week when doing some joinery work.

Stuart Wilson, Vesper Drive, Acomb, York.