May I respectfully disagree with David Hart’s view that too much emphasis is now being placed upon literacy and numeracy in primary schools?
Many of the 650 secondary schools affiliated to the Technology Colleges Trust consistently report that up to 40 per cent of their Year 7 children are two years or more behind in reading skills. In some cases as many as a quarter of the intake have an average reading age of seven.
A child who cannot read cannot learn. Emphasis on raising literacy and numeracy in primary schools is a crucial prior condition for raising standards of achievement in GCSE examinations.
Sir Cyril Taylor Chair Technology Colleges Trust 37 Queen’s Gate, London SW7
