Youngsters know they have to work hard

Last week, Bexhill College's students received their crop of A-level results and this week, the year 11s at Bexhill High School and St Richard's Catholic College opened the dreaded envelope enclosing their GCSEs.

Both schools and the college have achieved excellent results, and the staff at all three establishments have every reason to be proud of their students' achievements.

Yet year on year, we hear of record passes nationally, and 2009 is no exception.

Year on year the same arguments are made that education standards are slipping and that the results reflect a gradual "dumbing down" of teaching.

The Observer wonders what might have been said had the country's results gone the other way.

More than likely the same thoughts would be voiced, only turned on their heads to criticise teachers for not adequately preparing their students for the rigours of the exam hall.

One can turn statistics such as GCSE and A-level results to suit one's point of view.

But the results for each school represent a majority of students who have worked extremely hard to gain the best qualifications possible.

Young people aren't stupid.

The recession has bitten deep this year, affecting the jobs market.

This in turn puts greater pressure on students to achieve the best results they can so they can improve their chances of employment when the time comes.

Not only that, there has been huge competition this year for university places, again a knock-on effect of the recession.

Life seems to get more and more competitive year after year.

The days where one could walk straight out of education and straight into a choice of jobs are long gone.

Perhaps this is a reason why GCSE and A-level grades have improved year on year for such a long time '“ students are simply having to work harder to secure their future prospects.