Further disruption to the lives of young people would be inexcusable

sir – It is a great shame that the Government has backtracked on its initial, straightforward message that masks should not be worn in schools (report, August 26). But in doing so it has indicated that schools will remain open even in the event of a local lockdown.

The disruption to young people’s lives has to stop. The daily incidence of deaths due to Covid-19 in this country is very nearly zero. Hospital admissions due to the virus continue to decline everywhere.

Siobhan Jones

London SW14

sir – Sally Collier, Ofqual’s chief regulator, has resigned following the exam results fiasco – but you report (August 26) that she is “expected to take up a new role in the Cabinet Office”.

That sounds less like resigning – more like moving incompetence to another department.

Alistair Leitch

Morpeth, Northumberland sir – The loss of several of the poorestperforming universities as a result of improved A-level results and fewer foreign students should be welcomed, not avoided at all costs (Business, August 21).

Most of these students would be better off finding work, rather than finishing up £50,000 in debt and with a degree that has next to no value.

John Stewart

Terrick, Buckinghamshire

sir – As the pros and cons of learning online versus attending classes become the subject of even further research, I am surprised that Linda Blair (“Face-to-face is not always best”, Mind Healing, August 24) did not refer to degree and extension courses available through the Open University.

Thousands of people from a wide range of backgrounds have successfully graduated through the OU while holding down demanding jobs and bringing up families.

Roger A Lounds

Highcliffe, Dorset sir – It is time to reimagine medical education in this country.

A national course in medical sciences, delivered online, with entrants for further study selected thereafter, could widen access, reduce the financial burden of training, and provide a more sustainable workforce for the NHS.

Dr Richard Motley

Cardiff

sir – I would advise caution when contemplating lifting the cap on students admitted to study medicine.

Medical students require exposure to as many patients as possible in order to acquire essential clinical skills. However, there is a maximum number of students who can be taught at the bedside at any one time. When this number is exceeded, students receive inadequate tuition – and, more importantly, patients who have kindly consented to be part of lessons can be inconvenienced and overwhelmed.

Irving Taylor

Edgware, Middlesex