Ever since the CSE hotline started I’ve been getting letters from all sorts of people of all ages and professions who don’t agree with the new system of common state exams. As a matter of principle, I don’t get involved in arguments about this, because my aim in setting up the hotline was completely different.

The CSE is like a bridge that all school-leavers - like it or not - have to pass across. And they need help here and now - concrete help, rather than just my musings on the pros and cons of the new system. If the advice from my hotline helps a lot of pupils to pass the CSE this will be a real and helpful outcome. And for me that’s really important.