Text-speak ‘harms English’

RELIANCE on text-speak could be responsible for an appalling performance in English language, experts have warned.

Only 1.8 per cent of English language papers were graded A* – the joint lowest performance across all subjects at this grade.

Professor Alan Smithers, of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, said teenagers ‘find it hard to get their heads round formal language’. He added: ‘It’s appalling that results in our native language should be so very poor.’

The academic said many teenagers could still be struggling with basic grammar despite going on to study English language at A-level. Their teachers may also lack a proper grasp of the subject.

Record numbers of overseas students have been accepted on to UK degree courses despite Brexit warnings. Almost 60,000 have secured places – 26,400 from the EU and 31,510 from outside the bloc.