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Your report on initial reactions to the Dearing 16-19 review (THES, March 29) concentrated on the proposal for earlier degree-level study, which encourages the system to respond to different learning rates, and the need for more flexibility with respect to mode and rate of study as education becomes more seamless and continuing.

More significant for engineering is the aim to establish equivalence of academic and vocational routes, raising the prospect of Applied A levels becoming a more attractive study option for engineers, with a better interface with HE for students continuing their engineering studies through the normal entry point.

BRIAN RICHES School of Engineering and Manufacture De Montfort 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ