Children falling behind should repeat year at school

Children should be held back a year at school if they fail to
reach expected levels of achievement, the Conservative party
conference was told today, writes Simeon Brody from
Blackpool.

David Cameron, shadow secretary of state of education, told a
fringe meeting he was investigating a policy because far too many
children were leaving primary school without being able to read or
write.

He said: “In many continental countries, children not
making the grade or who are falling behind take the year again.

“We will be examining the possible advantages and
disadvantages of this practice. It may be that this is one of many
ways that we can help influence standards and instil rigour in our
education system,” he concluded.