School's out

How can social mobility possibly increase when schools in Inner London turn out students with "raw" social skills, unable to write letters or do basic sums? One employer even has to test to confirm knowledge of the alphabet? What have these students learnt in eleven years at school? Labour should be ashamed such pupils are condemned to a life of relative poverty.

Employers are potentially the ultimate consumer of quality education. They require good numerate and literate employees to earn money. Their complaints need to be addressed as they are free of the educational bias of so many other commentators.

PS Good to see the Department for Education and Skills spokesman admitting weaknesses in the current grading system, "We are toughening the GCSE so that in future no-one will be able to get a higher grade in English or maths without mastering the basics." So there has been grade inflation in the past!!