I understand that a new national curriculum for secondary school pupils was introduced last month. How does it differ from previous versions and will it raise academic standards?

Brenda Tomlinson Gloucestershire

Academic standards? What a quaint, anachronistic ideal. This is a curriculum alive with real world topicality. “Cross-curricular dimensions” such as cultural diversity and sustainable development are deemed to be more important than traditional subjects such as history or science.

Indeed, in this curriculum subjects have become vehicles for politically correct values. The programme of study for physical education, for example, requires pupils to spend time organising sporting events in the community in order to demonstrate “active citizenship”. Creative thinking, reflective learning, self-management: these key skills are to be at the heart of 21st-century classroom learning.

The idea seems to be that learning how to learn is more important than learning anything specific. Our children are going to leave school knowing less, even, than they do now.

My daughter is due to take part in a World Challenge trip to Ecuador next year. We have been informed that a Certificate of Personal Effectiveness ( Level 3 ) is being offered to those who complete this. It sounds like a good idea and a way of earning an extra 70 points for her Ucas (University and Colleges Admissions Service) form. Do you think it is worthwhile?

John Quanbrough, by e-mail

The extra Ucas points are worth having and could allow application to a more prestigious university course. It is, however, the A-level grades that matter most and extras of this kind are not going to cut much ice if the course is competitive. That said, the World Challenge tripshould certainly figure prominently inyour daughter's personal statement.

My daughter, aged 16, studying for GCSEs at an independent school, has been allowed to go through the senior school without fully understanding maths. For the past few years I have been told she is struggling but okay. Last February I decided to check her level of understanding with a maths tutor. It was appalling. We are now desperately trying to get her up to the right level. I am a single parent, spending £60 a week on maths lessons and paying fees in excess of £4,000 a term. Is there any form of redress?

Name withheld

You should have been told about your daughter’s difficulties and, according to Jack Rabinowicz, an education lawyer, you may have a claim. He points out, however, that legal aid is now based on a cost/benefit ratio and you would not be eligible for aid unless the claim was for £30,000 or more, which is unlikely.

You should press the school to offer extra classes, without making a huge fuss. If your daughter has a learning difficulty, she could be allowed more time in her exam so it might be worth commissioning a psychologist’s report.

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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