Ellee Seymour

When I went to my younger son’s parents evening the other day, the longest queue was to see the maths teacher. The reason was because she had to explain changes in the curriculum which are certainly not going to benefit James, and others like him.

Up until last year, maths GCSE was taught at three levels - higher, intermediate and foundation. My eldest son David passed the intermediate with a B grade - the top grade achievable. We shall never know if he could have reached an A.

It’s even worse now as the intermediate level has been scrapped, so you are either a top grade or bottom grade student. And James is in the middle, like thousands of other kids.

So this is where the pressure is on for teachers, kids and parents as a decision will be made later this term about which paper James sits next year. Many of the top grade students are already working on the higher level paper, so the chances are James will struggle to keep up with that class and it could cause him a lot of anxiety, so I have offered him private tuition with a neighbour who is a secondary school maths teacher.

If James takes the foundation paper, the top grade he can achieve is a level C. It will not motivate him at all, he will be working below his level.

So the maths teacher explained this over and over again to all the despairing parents, she kept blaming the government for introducing this flawed system which has no logic and nobody thinks is fair or workable. It is particularly letting down the kids who would like to work for a B grade, the ones who fit most comfortably in the intermediate group.

Crucially, having toured several universities with my elder son David, I noticed that they all required level B GCSE maths as a condition of acceptance on their courses. As many intermediate level kids will not now be able to achieve this, this could seriously scupper their university plans. It means a potential generation of kids failed by this ill thought out maths system, a core curriculum subject which should be inspiring, not demoralising, those who want to do their best and reach their full potential.

This is why I wholeheartedly welcome a forthcoming debate, The Value of Mathematics, with Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, and leading academics to mark the launch of Reform’s latest research paper which analyses the contribution of mathematics to the UK economy and how standards and attainment in maths education have changed over time.

The report also makes recommendations to increase the value of mathematics. The event will bring together key thinkers in the world of mathematics including policy makers, academics and business leaders and is being held on 2 June at the London Mathematical Society.

I hope some Labour education ministers have that date in their diary, that they will participate in this debate.

*I also believe our kids rely too much on calculators today instead of using their brains. I went into the pharmacy recently and bought three items which cost £1.98. The tills were not working and not one of the three assistants could work out my bill by using mental arithmetic. I tested James on this at the breakfast table, and, thankfully, he passed.

David can now throw out his L plates having passed his driving test today. I was thrilled for him because I felt he deserved to pass, that he was both confident and considerate on the road.

We had arranged to meet for lunch in Cambridge anyway, so it was great to make it a celebratory event at Nandos, one of his favourite restaurants, despite my concerns about where they source their chickens from.

I remember how thrilled I felt when I passed my driving test, I felt more exhilarated than any other exam success I notched up. Although David was quietly pleased - and embarrassed by the jig I did in the street when he told me - he said winning his football teams Players’ Player of the Year Award, as well as their Supporters’ Award last Saturday, had meant more to him, that it was the best night of his life.

I think I can understand that.

Congratulations David. I’m so pleased for you and very, very proud.

After Margaret Mizen’s truly selfless words following the murder of her 16-year-old son Jimmy, which mother do you feel sorry for?

Jimmy, a devout Roman Catholic, was slashed across the neck with a broken glass dish in a bakery in south-east London by a man in his 20s who had unsuccessfully tried to goad him and his 18 year old brother Harry into a fight on Saturday morning.

Jimmy’s mother said afterwards that she felt only sympathy for her son’s attacker and his parents:

“I don’t feel anger, just sorrow for the parents of our son’s killer. They must be in pain. It’s so painful to know that one of your children has been so cruel, so wicked.”

One can only have the greatest admiration for such dignity and kindness. And her poignant words are very true. But will it make any difference to the killer and his family? Or to others who live their lives by violence?

Accidental death is one thing, but a deliberate unprovoked murder on a decent teenager is another.

My sympathies are with the exemplary Mizen family for the loss of their gorgeous son, similar in age to my two boys, who should have been preparing for his GCSEs right now.

I’m planning to learn how to read a compass this weekend. It is something I have always wanted to do, so I have booked a session with my local ramblers group.

It’s being held on the grounds of the very gracious Wimpole Hall tomorrow. Doe this this mean I will no longer need to use my sat nav in the car?

Update: Sunday, 11 May:

The walk was stunningly beautiful, and yes, I also learnt how to navigate with a compass. I felt such a terrific sense of achievement, I really enjoyed it. Like everything else in life, it’s only easy if you know it, and I had never been shown before. The guy on the left in the red shirt was our leader, and he was very patient. Thank you George.

I also heard a funny compass tale, the brother of one of the guys on our walk was night walking using his compass and walked straight into a lake! And one of our other walkers fell 300ft off a mountain, but I’m not sure if his compass reading was to blame for that!

You always pick up a good tale or two on a ramble…

  I was thrilled to learn today that dishy actor Simon MacCorkindale is to visit Headway Cambridgeshire and will pass on some tips to brain injury survivors about remembering lines and overcoming nerves.

Meeting the star of stage and screen will make their day. It’s fantastic that Simon is taking time out from his hectic schedule to help them.

And I did not realise that he was born in Ely, close to where I live. I can tell you he is not a typical Fenny.

Simon actively supports Headway and will be visiting the Cambridge centre while starring at The Arts Theatre in the thriller Sleuth, by Anthony Shaffer. I shall certainly  book some tickets, and I’ve suggested that we take a group of our service users along to see him at the theatre too.

I know Simon used to be a bit of a heart throb, and he certainly does not seem to have lost his dashing looks. It will certainly be a pleasure to meet him on 20 May as vice-chair of trustees at Headway Cambridgeshire.

Simon is best known for his role as consultant Harry Harper in Casualty, but has also starred in countless other television and film productions, including Falcon Crest, Manimal, Robin of Sherwood and even Dynasty.

Thank you Simon!!!

The uncle of a missing teenager who vanished from her home in the Costa del Sol on New Year’s Day has asked me to highlight her case.

The stepfather of 15-year-old Amy Fitzpatrick is offering a “substantial” reward for information about her disappearance.

Four months on, there is still no news about what happened to Amy, who is from Dublin, despite extensive searches using a police team of 200.

Detectives are continuing the hunt for Amy, who vanished from Mijas Costa. She was last seen at 10pm as she left a friend’s home in the tourist resort of Riviera del Sol, saying she was going to walk home. She had no money and wasn’t carrying her mobile telephone.

Police have appealed for information about a white Ford Fiesta with a UK number plate owned by a family friend, which went missing at the same time as Amy.

A government spokesman in the region said it was difficult to believe the youngster left voluntarily.

Police are now looking for a second car connected to the case, although no description has yet been released.

In memory of those who are still missing.

Staff accused of theft or damage at their workplace are to be named and shamed on a new database which is due to be launched later this month. It could mean they find it impossible to find future employment.

What is shocking about this is that they can be named and shamed regardless of whether they have been convicted of any crime –and bosses can access it when vetting potential employees.

It is an Orwellian nightmare which has been dreamt up by the National Staff Dismissal Register and companies that have signed up include Harrods, Selfridges, Reed Managed Services and Mothercare. By the end of May they will be able to check whether job applicants have faced allegations of stealing, forgery, fraud, damaging company property or causing a loss to their employers and suppliers.

Trade unions and civil liberties campaigners are warning that it leaves workers vulnerable to the threat of false accusations and is open to abuse by employers who could bear staff a grudge. An employee may not even be aware they have been blacklisted or have any right to appeal.

While I do not condone any kind of criminal activity and sympathise with companies who have been victims of office crime, I do not believe that a person who has not been convicted of an offence by a court of law should be named and shamed in this way.

Doesn’t the Criminal Records Bureau already provide employers with the information they need? Is this really necessary?

My sister is in the retail trade and the problem she has is not with dishonest or troublesome staff, but getting enough police interest to prosecute shoplifters.

I’m really worried about this, and remember, mud sticks.

It was six years ago this August that two angelic 10-year-old girls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were brutally murdered in Soham, a village close to where I live.

They were killed by Ian Huntley, a trusted caretaker at Soham Village College, an excellent secondary school which my youngest son James attends. He is in Year 10. Both girls would have been Year 11.

The loving memory of the girls is still very evident, and I was reminded of this last Friday and Saturday when pupils from the school staged a cabaret evening with music and dance from West End shows. James, of course, was in his element.

The song that stole the show was No-One But You (Only the Good Die Young) from the Queen tribute musical We Will Rock You. It was recorded following the death of Freddie Mercury.

But at the weekend, it was sung by a beautiful young girl called Natalie who was Holly’s best friend. She sang it as a duet with backing from other Year 11s.

She sang it with tears in her eyes after telling the audience: "This is in memory of two girls who should have been with us this evening."

And she sang these words from the song which touched everybody’s heart: "One by one, only the good die young…."

The audience were on their feet applauding at the end, even grandparents who were wobbly on their feet, it was a very highly charged, emotional moment. I had tears in my eyes too.

I heard that Holly’s proud parents were there on the Friday evening. If so, I am sure they would have been very moved.

Natalie is mentioned in the opening chapter of Kevin Wells’ book Goodbye Dearest Holly. Back in August 2002, she had slept over at Holly’s house and spent the morning playing there. Jessica popped round to give Holly a present she bought her on holiday. Natalie went home mid morning. Later that day, Holly and Jessica died.

Kevin is an extraordinary man. He used to clean our windows and unlike other window cleaners who would be on their way after they had done their job and been paid, Kevin would stay and talk. Our children were the same ages - my eldest David was in the same year group as his son Oliver, and they later played in the same football team.

I remember how Kevin and I bought our first computers at the same time, and we would talk about this and our families. He was always so cheerful and genuinely interested in other people’s lives. I so admired his strength and courage during the biggest nightmare of his life.

R.I.P. dear Holly and Jessica.

Why did so many leading PR agencies fail to accurately grasp the discontented mood of Londoners and predict that Boris Johnson would win the London Mayoralty contest?

In an article for PR Week, only three out of 10 top agencies stated that they felt Boris stood a chance of winning. They were Bell Pottinger, Hanover Communications and DLA Piper.

The remaining seven predicted that Ken would retain his title for a third term. They were Insight Public Affairs, Weber Shandwick, Edelman, Lexington Communications, Open Road, Sovereign Strategy and Fishburn Hedges.

One CEO is even quoted as saying: "Better the devil you know than someone whose competence is in doubt."

That is so complacent, and that is why Ken is out.

Boris’ victory speech was truly magnanimous, I don’t think anyone could doubt his competence then.

Congratulations Boris!

All is quiet over at LabourHome. At 11.20 am, nobody had said a word yet about their sensational defeat yesterday, their last post still urges voters to back Ken.

It’s tired and weary, lacklustre and defeatist. I wonder what they will say about Labour’s worst local council results in 40 years.

Most devastatingly for them, the party has fallen into third place nationally with 24% of votes, while the Conservatives have 44% and Lib Dems 25%. So far Labour has lost more than 160 seats with the Tories gaining 147.

I think there will be lots of red faces today. And lots more tonight too after Boris is crowned Mayor of London.

This is what David Cameron said this morning as he plans the way forward after the huge vote of confidence in him, his words are spot on:

“I think this is a very big moment for the Conservative Party, I don’t want any one to think we would deserve to win an election just on the back of a failing government. I want us to really prove to people that we can make the changes that they want to see in terms of schools and hospitals and crime and the other issues that really matter to all of us - and that’s what I’m going to devote myself and my party to doing over the next few months.”