Hello and welcome to Thursdays Levy Letter. I was expecting it to be pouring down this morning after Pauls message of doom and gloom for the weather this week. But actually it doesnt look too bad. Perhaps I shouldnt jinx it though!
On tonight's programme why are we waiting? We'll be speaking with the council tenants, who were hit by the floods and still seven weeks on are waiting for basic repairs to be carried out on their homes. And as A level results rise again for the 25th year, we'll be putting the exams to the test to investigate claims that today's exams are easier than they used to be. Plus Ill be bringing you the update on the thirteen year old Scunthorpe boy, who sat his maths A level some five years early. He's getting his results today and we'll let you know how he got on tonight. Also tonight - they're putting their lives at risk. So say Boston Police, who fear for the safety of children climbing scaffolding around Boston Stump. And it may only be August, but city centre managers in Hull are already thinking ahead towards Christmas. Can you believe this? We'll have an exclusive story looking at plans to transform a city street into a ski slope. More on this later on the programme. Im sure there are lots of students across the region finding out their exam results today. And its been announced that a record one in four A Level results is an A grade this year. For the first time ever, thats more than 25% of exams given an A grade. And as always, girls are out on top getting better grades in their subjects compared with the boys in every major subject except further maths and foreign languages apparently. The large numbers of A grades will, of course, fuel the debate that exams these days are too easy. But Im sure there are many students, who disagree with that! There are calls though for a change to the standard A level exam and theyre looking to the continent for inspiration. There will be a new AQA Bacc on offer at many colleges across the country next year, which is designed to offer a wider range of subjects to study for sixth formers. The aim of this is for universities to better gauge the strength of students and to distinguish the really bright ones from the huge numbers of A grade results. The French education system has had the Baccalaureate for many years, but theres just been one college in the UK this year teaching this qualification as a trial. On the basis of this years Baccalaureate results, the course will be widely available across the UK next year. Students will study three A levels, but will then take a further paper in critical thinking, citizenship or general studies. Theres then an essay to write, or a project or thesis, which should show their ability to develop a theory or argument and will show off th! eir writing skills. This new qualification should also offer an opportunity to show the students extra curricular activities too. Does it sound like a lot more work? Let me know what you think about that one, especially if youre a student. And if youve got your results today, then let me know how you got on. If you got an A grade, then what do you think when people criticise the exams saying theyre too easy! And if you didnt get the grades you wanted, then how do you think the exams should be carried out? Would you prefer a more hands-on, job specific training programme? Well, get in touch and let me know what you think about this. Its the usual address of [EMAIL PROTECTED] We all know that we shouldnt pop down the local chippie and we shouldnt grab a burger from the drive-in, because its bad for us. But perhaps it isnt our fault. Perhaps were not to blame for giving in to those cravings. Mothers, who eat junk food during pregnancy, may be condemning their children to cravings for the same diet. Thats according to scientists, who have done extensive research on rats! Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College have been feeding pregnant rats on a diet of biscuits, crisps and sweets and have discovered that their offspring have then munched on the same sort of unhealthy diet. So although, Jamie Oliver thinks healthy eating at school is important, perhaps it should all start much sooner while the baby is still in the womb! And just time for a quick plug. This one comes from Becky King, who is the publicity co-ordinator for Harrowby Singers in Grantham. Theyre putting on a production at the Guildhall Arts Centre called Musical Legends. Its on from September 13th until the 15th of September. So theres the plug. And good luck to the Harrowby Singers. Thats all for today. Take care, Peter And for the latest news and more where you live, go to: http://bbc.co.uk/humber and http://bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the BBC Look North newsletter, go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/looknorthhull/newsletter/newsletter_index.shtml, enter your email address in the unsubscribe box. 1.94.4
