Sir, In no time at all the arrival of GCSE and A-level results will once more make or mar the summer of Britain’s teenagers. I suggest we spare a thought for the small band of dedicated souls who can spend easily as much as 100 hours marking their assignment of exam papers, excluding all the form-filling bureaucracy that adds to their load at the end of a busy term.
Many of these teachers come from the highest ranks of the profession, as the work requires a first-class knowledge of the subject and meticulous attention to detail and argument. They know they will not be well paid for their efforts, but the actual figure, of the order of £1.75 per A-level script (pre-tax), is shameful.
Just how much importance do we attach to education?
Yours faithfully,
JOHN DAVIE,
7 Meon Road, W3 8AN.
August 4.