I READ with amazement your story referring to "dumbing down" of GCSE English exams because of emphasising basic English skills in language (Echo, July 14).

After years of employers bemoaning the lack in school leavers of these skills, we still have "experts" telling us that without these "functional skills" pupils could not progress to higher grade English.

Surely it is the case in any subject, whether it be piano-playing, skiing, painting, etc, that basic skills must be mastered.

To encourage pupils to ignore the building bricks of good communication, by telling them they are not important, is a serious dereliction of responsibility by those who should know better.

Then comes the real clincher from Bethan Marshall, a senior lecturer in English education at King's College, London, who is quoted as saying that the subject "is much more than being able to communicate accurately".

Really? How can the "much more"

be achieved if our pupils do not have the basic skills? Another "expert"

who is completely out of touch with reality, and definitely in the wrong job.

KR Hopper, Darlington.