THE A Level and GCSE results are out and the cries of 'dumbing-down' and 'they are too easy' are being heard once again.

It must be soul-destroying for pupils and teachers.

I took the last School Certificate in 1950 at Nunthorpe Grammar School, York. In those days only 25 per cent of pupils went to grammar schools and they were the only ones to take examinations.

Secondary school pupils left school at 14, or 15 by 1948, without national qualifications.

I found my old examination papers recently.

To pass the School Certificate a candidate had to gain a minimum of a pass (more than 35 per cent) in five subjects and a credit (50 per cent or more) in a sixth.

In addition, every candidate had to pass the English language examination.

Several candidates in my year achieved a distinction (more than 70 per cent) in several subjects but failed English and therefore failed the School Certificate.

I obtained my School Certificate, but only just.

I am sure today's pupils work as hard, if not harder, than we all did 50 or more years ago and they certainly know a lot more about life than we did.

We were innocents despite living through the Second World War.

What children are taught today, how they are taught and what is tested may be different from the way it was done in 1950, but they can only achieve what we ask of them.

We have created this world; we have set the standards.

Let them enjoy their just rewards.

Brian Oxberry,

Monk Stray House,

Stockton Lane,

York.

Updated: 10:34 Tuesday, August 27, 2002