WHAT a very thoughtful letter penned by Andrew Dowson (HAS, Aug 29) about the forgotten students who did not reach the grade and how they felt.

It reminds me of myself as a 16-year-old at Bowburn secondary school in County Durham awaiting my CSE results.

I didn't expect much as I came from a very big family and had two paper rounds, one at 6.30am in the morning and one at 5pm.

This resulted in me getting up at 5am and then onto the United bus at 7.30am to get to school; then I got off the bus to start my night round at 5pm, so there was not much time to do any studying as I was always tired.

The results duly arrived in the post and they were not very good: five grade threes and a grade four in maths.

Totally dejected, I started work as a painter and decorator, which I hated.

But fate must have been at hand and I secured a good job in law where I remained for 25 years.

On leaving, the education bug took over and I obtained many certificates and did law at the Open University.

So to all the students who did not gain the results they required, don't despair. Continue to strive to gain what you want.

Andrew Dowson’s final comments are so true. He says that the students are not failures and they can make a good contribution to society – the names of many successful people that I know but didn't get good grades immediately spring to mind.

Cllr Norman Hughes, Seaham