GCSE and A levels are often in the news in the UK at this time of year, as millions of schoolchildren are preparing to sit their exams. When the results begin arriving the cry goes up that they are much too hard for the children and if they have suffered a personal trauma they will need extra marks. On the opposite side are the people claiming that the exams are getting easier and the mediocre are attaining university places that should be reserved for the brilliant.

• Are exams the best way for us to assess our children? What other ways are there for students to demonstrate their ability and attainment?

• What meaning do your five GCSEs have once you’re 45?

• With coursework being sold on the internet, what can we do to make sure that each candidate only produces their own work?

• Do other countries do things differently, and what can we learn from them?