I AGREE with Isobel Lindsay (Letters, September 9) on testing primary school children. As someone who failed the dreaded 11-plus exam, and spent a few years thereafter, doing what were referred to as non-academic vocational skills (woodwork, metal work, motor vehicle maintenance, gardening and the like – all things I’m still useless at) I would be fearful of putting young people through such confidence-damaging tests. I say “confidence damaging” because even at that young age, I still recall the sense of being effectively written off (as a child of course, I wouldn’t have been able to articulate such feelings) as the “clever kids” went off to the Academy, in the next village.

Although I have declared my incompetence with practical skills, I must have learned somewhere how to read and write like a big boy – thus enabling me to write letters to The Herald. The serious point being 11 and under, is far too early to impose tests that may result in more children feeling they’re being written off.

Eddie Orme,

65 Spottiswoode Gardens, Mid Calder.