Sir – I have some concerns regarding recent A-level results at Richmond School. I wrote to the headteacher and to all governors on August 25 to outline my worries and asking for comment. To date, two weeks later, I have not had any acknowledgement from anyone there, let alone a response.

Currently, the A-level course has two sets of examinations, one at the end of year one. and another in year two. Each are worth 50 per cent of the final A-level grade.

At AS-level, my son's results were poorer than he had been expecting. Upon researching among his peer students, we were shocked to discover that his experience was not at all uncommon. Many young people expecting As and Bs, got Ds, Es and some even Us (i.e.

not worth the minimum pass marks). Of the subjects taken by my son, I learned that in biology, 32.3 per cent of students taking the exams were graded U. In politics, 20.8 per cent got U. I only have information on the four subjects taken by him, there may be similar results or even worse in other subjects.

These are some of the brightest young people in the school. Entry to A-level courses at Richmond School requires at least 5 GCSEs at grade B or above. Many of these young people came to the sixth form with nine or ten at A* or A. So, after a year of teaching, 20 or 30 per cent of them do not get even the very lowest of pass marks (E grade). What does that tell us?

Surely this gives cause for concern? It certainly worried my son and I enough for him to leave Richmond sixth form and restart his A-levels elsewhere.

I do wonder if I am the only parent with these concerns?

Perhaps the school can respond to your newspaper and let us know.

H SMITH (Address supplied)