Both GCSEs and A levels need to be reformed but, in an era of limited resources, should we really be putting time and money into creating a new examination at 16-plus? From next year, students will be expected to remain in learning to age 17 and two years later to age 18. By 2015, the year the so-called EBac Certificate is set to be introduced, the idea of a leaving exam at 16 will have become an anachronism. The truly radical reform would be to replace our current examinations at 16 and 18 with an English Baccalaureate worthy of that name, which recognises achievements in both academic and vocational courses at age 18. Time to revisit the Tomlinson report of 2004.

David Andrews, Royston, Hertfordshire.