Has Alice Miles ever looked at the PISA results? She would have discovered to her chagrin that UK children perform very well according to the OECD. MarkS. I's like to see you placed in front of a finals paper right now! I can just hear the whimpering!

Dectora, London, UK

We talk about education but don't get on with it. Best education: a clip round the earoles & conjugating Latin verbs.

ian cheese, london, uk

All my 4 grandkids lost their curiosity after starting their schooling. The 2 bright girls now 15, unchallenged, are bored. One boy of 13 talented in art got no encouragement and sadly has lost interest. The other boy of 13 is an 'oddball' and prefers playtime to lessons - he should do well!

Shirley Bowen, Blackpool, UK

The very heart of this is a Government unable to admit even the possibility that it is wrong. The overriding requirement of every one of these tests is to produce results that indicate the success of Government policy - irrespective of what is actually the case.

Brave New World or 1984, anyone?

Simon Stephenson, Windermere, UK

There are lies, damned lies and then statistics which is why ministers love them. You can prove just about any thing with statistics.

C Hanson, Nassau, Bahamas

Statistics are important. How many Balls are there? I think we should be told!

Paul Freeman, London , England

Does anybody seriously expect any Labour "minister" and I use that word losely, to take responsibility for their actions? If that were the case the Cabinet would be empty.

Albert Hall, kettering,

1 child who cannot read and write is a tragedy, 1 million children who cannot read and write is a statistic.

Dr Nicholas Ashley, Huntingdon, England

"We need a genuinely independent statistical body that can assure us that the numbers used are fair." You mean like the UK Statistics Authority?

Leon, Hemel Hempstead,

Could we have a devolved system and pay local groups to run their own schools such as in Sweden? Government is the problem: meddlesome, costly and totally incompetent.

Peter York, Tonbridge, Kent

I cannot get my head round your last para: "four in ten children, born [1997] leaving primary school today still without real competence in literacy, numeracy and science". These are crazy results. Why do parents stand for it? This is not Zimbabwe or Sudan.

R Mason, London, UK

Balls is an utter disgrace to his office. He makes Gord look accountable ...if thats possible.

The head, London,

All those people saying that statistics are misleading are wrong - statistics provide the only real way to assess an otherwise complicated system. It is the trust in the statistics that is lacking. We need a genuinely independent statistical body that can assure us that the numbers used are fair.

Steve, Altrincham,

ETS would seem to be quite unusually incompetent, even for a government contractor, if they run premium phone lines - money for jam - but can't even manage to answer them!

Ross, Bristol,

When you get a government as venal and cynical as this one you cannot trust results at any level. This is why we get record pass rates and higher grades, and yet employers say that job applications have lower standards than ever and colleges have to put on remedial courses in basic English and maths

John Bull, Wolverhampton,

The case for a fully privatised, voucher-funded system grows stronger with every passing day.

Michael, London,

SATs especially at KS 1 and 3, don't matter. It's high time the government dispensed with them and put the enormous amount of money they cost into schools where it is REALLY needed.

PR, Cwll,

I work closely with a number of schools and I can categorically say that standards are sinking. I do not blame our teachers but I do blame their unions, who have sat back on their collective backsides and allowed this insane and morally corrupt government to create havoc in our education system

Pete, Lincoln, England

I have just taken time off to assist my son from home due to the complete lack of education in the education system. The teachers lack creativity, the Heads lack well lack! There is no education. Having spent 6 months on the KS2 it is rubbish. I cannot say more and it is very sad. It is broken!

Graeme Blackmore, Surrey, England

I don't see the problem. Allow me to teach a small group of children until they are 11 and I will guarantee they are literate and numerate. And I'm not even a teacher, just a bloke with a few dusty 'O' levels. The sole condition is that the government must have absolutely no input whatsoever.

John, Bangkok, Thailand

My old headmaster's favourite expression was "Education comes from the Latin "educare" which means to draw out not to stuff in" And we called him "Clueless Carter".
God rest his soul and forgive us our levity.

Meyer Culper, Leatherhead,

Have a think about things in your life that are measurable (your height, weight and the length of your nose) as compared to the immeasurable (your curiosity, your capacity to enjoy and your compassion). I despair of this eternal fascination with statistical success - enjoy your holidays Jim Knight!

Nick White, Bognor, UK

Isn't it strange that after spending decades campaigning against the 11 Plus examinations, the Labour Government now imposes formal tests on pupils almost every year?

m wood, somerset, uk

I can remember when Olde Labour politicians were called technocrats on account of their view that society was comprised of distinct classes and that simply by government 'pulling the levers' everything would be 'alright'. It seems that Nu-Blu Labor still retains this regressive gene.

Terry Walpole, Seoul, Korea

Everything the government says must be a pack of lies! The Iraq war demonstrated the lack of credibility of the parlimentary process of Britain. The British government lied to its citizens over weapons of mass destruction, so they must be lying about everything else. QED

Jim Wills, Brisbane, Australia

Answer me this question: is there any aspect of education today that is better than it was ten years ago, twenty years ago or even forty years ago?

From SATs to GCSEs to A-Levels to Degrees - every single one has been devalued. We now have a much more expensive system that isn't fit for purpose.

MarkS, Leeds,

You seem to forget that Mr. Balls hasn't failed! He just has 'defferred success'

Mike, UK,

It is a shame that the author of this excellent article concludes that 4/10 children lack competence in Literacy, Numeracy AND Science. It should be OR - a majority of the 40% will have L4 in 1 or 2 of those subjects. Plus, the only statistics she is using to condemn are the flawed tests themselves!

Russell, Birmingham,

One statistic that always amazes me is how one voter in seven still supports this useless government.

Mr G, Leeds, :UK