After reading “Even if I get 12 A*s will anyone care” (TES, August 27) and “Why GCSEs still mean something” (TES, September 10) I would like to suggest that this issue is worthy of some editorial focus. At my present school, a pupil was told (to the amazement of her teachers) that her application for a university place was not of interest to the institution in question, since despite predicted grade As at A-level, she did not have sufficient A*s at GCSE.
This seems to me something that pupils and teachers need to be very clear about indeed, rather than a matter for parentheses in a letter. I would like to know if this is a standard way for universities to draw up their shortlists.
Ursula Jeakins
Teacher of French
2 Starsmead
Haresfield
Stonehouse
Gloucestershire