Here’s one life skill that will come in handy | Letters

Readers respond to recommendations of the England curriculum review One lesson in any new “life skills” curriculum (Report, 4 November) should be on teaching school leavers about HMRC and taxation of their future personal earnings. As an employer, I regularly find comprehension of how PAYE, national insurance, tax codes and student loans are calculated is minimal. An understanding of what P6, P9, P60, P45 and P85 forms are for would help students transition into the world of employment.William AlexanderSevenoaks, Kent• Unlike Liz Thompson (Letters, 6 November), I went to a girls’ secondary modern school. We had a domestic science teacher, but not a science teacher. We were told: “You will end up sticking eyes in bendy toys.” I trained as a shorthand typist, studied for A-levels and a diploma in evening classes, and graduated from university aged 31. I didn’t get a “rich husband”, but did achieve a PGCE. Teaching would have been a “good job” if it hadn’t been for Margaret Thatcher’s school budgets policy, which resulted in privatisation of supply work and lower pay. I can still cook though.Janette WardTarrington, Herefordshire Continue reading...