SIXTH-formers have hit back at comments by former chief inspector of schools Chris Woodhead over the alleged "dumbing down" of A-levels.

This year's results released today (August 19) are expected to show sixth-formers have broken all records by scoring grade As in almost a quarter of the exams.

Mr Woodhead has described this year's results as "utterly worthless".

But schools minister David Milliband has said there is no evidence that standards are being undermined.

The Echo spoke to three A-level students from Parkstone Grammar School.

Mandy Avis, 18, taking psychology, French and Italian, said: "I think it's quite upsetting for people who don't get very good grades because it just minimises all their efforts and people say if it's that easy you should have passed."

Naomi Barker, 19, taking physics, maths and geography, said: "It is a bit stupid that you can retake it as many times as you want.

"But I think maths is much harder now."

Steph Betteridge, 18, taking English literature, French and psychology, said: "Did these people sit the exam every single year? I don't see how they could know."

When A-levels were introduced in 1951 only 37,000 sat one or more, but now around 500,000 do.

Mike Snell, Brockenhurst College principal, said: "Exams are certainly no easier - students are working harder and the quality of teaching and learning is improving all the time."

Andy Puttock, head of Queen Elizabeth School in Wimborne, said: "There are many more students achieving A-level grades, which is not to say they don't deserve them but it makes it more difficult to pick the best."

Angie Wazejewski, deputy head at St Peter's RC School, said: "Anybody who makes the comment that A-levels have got easier are damned mean and very short-sighted in their views."

Lynda Clarke, senior inspector for 14-19 education at Bournemouth LEA, described A-levels as "jolly hard work" and said standards were "carefully monitored".

John Nash, policy director for education in the Borough of Poole, said: "In the past there was a fixed percentage of students who could pass and now if young people demonstrate they reach a certain standard they pass.

"So inevitably more pass but it doesn't mean it's got easier.

"There is considerable evidence that the quality of teaching in schools is improving. Young people are also more ambitious than they used to be."

First published: August 19