21 JANUARY 1949, Page 20

Sta,—From all the discussion there has been about the new

school examination, it appears that many people have the strange idea that at present a child takes School Certificate when he is considered ready for it. In most schools, however, the individual is not considered at all, but takes the exam. four or five years after entering the school according to the custom of that school. When it is taken in four.years it usually means that the less bright child fails and has to take it again, but those who pass either leave or go into the sixth form at the early age of 15 to start cramming three subjects for Higher Certificate, studying literature, &c., which they are hardly mature enough to appreciate.

Many parents, I know, loin me in wishing Mr. Tomlinson every success in his endeavours to stop this sort of thing. We want our children to