With the GCSE results looming, young people are nervously anticipating their results. There is an unacceptable pressure put on them to achieve the best results.

In schools nowadays we see pupils taking far too many GCSEs in subjects they do not enjoy or have any practical benefit. This is because of schools obsession with competitive league tables. However, this atmosphere creates bored, dysfunctional, distressed even depressed pupils. It would be far better to concentrate on a few quality GCSEs that can be taught in depth, resulting in young people with a lifelong interest in learning.

I feel schools should look seriously at their procedure of encouraging, or even forcing pupils to do the maximum number of GCSEs. Schools are supposed to function for the good of the pupil, not the other way around.

Whilst GCSE results are improving, pupils apathy of education increases. To pass a test with flying colours doesn't make you intellectually better than someone who can't. And to reject a teenager from further education, due to the fact that they can't recall facts from a textbook in an exam, shows what a one-dimensional society we can be.

So come the 26th, congratulations to all who get the results they need to go on to further education and shame on the sixth forms/colleges that reject those who do not.

- L1995, aged 16.