As A-level results are published in the UK's end-of-school examinations, yet another high pass rate has brought yet another barrage of criticism that standards have slid, making them easier to pass and to excel in.

In their report, Standards of Public Examinations in England and Wales, the think tank Reform warns that A-levels have become much easier. They say that a student achieving a grade E in A-level mathematics in 1988 would achieve a grade B now, and that standards of A-levels and GCSEs have steadily fallen since the Department of Education started overseeing them in 1988

The British Chambers of Commerce says the exams have been "dumbed down," and the Confederation of British Industry has highlighted the falling numbers taking languages and sciences. Yet the BBC reports that

The government has defended A-level examinations against claims that it is becoming easier to achieve good grades. Education minister Lord Adonis said improved results were due to a "fundamental shift" in teaching quality and were a "cause for celebration".

You take your choice. Either the exams are less demanding, or teaching is now sufficiently good to get more students through. It is actually quite difficult to determine which is true, although the statistical pattern seems to fit more with systematic grade inflation. Another pointer is the fact that many universities and employers voice criticisms that A-levels are a less reliable indicator of standards than they were.

Geoff Lucas, general secretary of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, which represents many leading independent schools, said A-levels were in "terminal decline". Grade inflation was making it impossible to distinguish between brighter candidates, he added. Several independent school heads are promoting a move away from A-levels towards the International Baccalaureate, which, they say, has higher academic standards.

As the Mail on Sunday reported, the ASI has held talks with key education figures to examine the case for an independent examination body, and a new exam which would test for quality and hold its value. In fact there was wide support for the idea; so much so that something very similar is already under development, making our own initiative unnecessary.