I am told that schools are setting increasingly tough entrance requirements for sixth form study. Is this true? If so, does it not negate the whole principle of comprehensive education, and, indeed, the government’s aim to increase numbers in higher education?

Name withheld

Many schools, state and independent, are now asking for A and B GCSE grades in the subjects chosen for A-level study. Cynics blame the pressure of league tables and argue that everybody should have the opportunity to follow an A-level course, and, indeed, irrespective of their intellectual ability, go on to university.

I disagree. It is wrong to encourage young people to commit themselves to courses they are likely to fail, and I approve, therefore, of head teachers who demand evidence of ability. Parents should be realistic about their children’s potential; if their offspring are not academic, they should explore vocational options.

My daughter started university in September 2007. She is the first member of our family to go, and our income for the tax year 2007-8 just excluded us from anything but the standard student loan. In April of this year our family income fell 11% compared with the previous year. I submitted the details to my local education authority for reassessment, hoping for more financial support. The authority advises me that it will not reassess income unless it falls more than 15%. I realise there has to be some threshold but 15% seems very high. Is this right?

Anthony Pegg, Leicester

The 15% threshold is set by the Student Loans Company. Local authorities have no discretion to vary it. Five per cent would seem to me to be a more reasonable figure.

We have a five-year-old son who has Asperger syndrome. He has just finished reception at primary school and starts Year 1 in September. We have applied for a Statement of Educational Needs but may well not get one: with limited resources, his school may not be able to provide the one-to-one help we think he will need. He is happy at the school so we do not want to move him. Extra teaching outside school hours is not an option because he is worn out by the time school is over. I would be happy to pay the school for it to provide one-to-one support during school hours but am told this is not possible. This seems completely wrong to me. Can you tell me whether it is illegal for this to happen or, if not, why it is not achievable?

Mark Hogarth, Address withheld

Education lawyer Jack Rabinowicz thinks that you have a good chance of securing one-to-one support through a statement.

If you are turned down you should engage an educational psychologist and appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal.

Chris Woodhead is a former chief inspector of schools and now chairman of the private schools group Cognita. If you have a question for him, please write to him c/o The Sunday Times, 1 Pennington Street, London E98 1ST or e-mail him, with your name and address, at education-questions@sunday-times.co.uk

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