Spelling free-for-all

Examiners marking an English test taken by 600,000 14-year-olds have been told not to deduct marks for incorrect spelling on on the main writing paper, worth nearly a third of the overall marks, reports The Telegraph. The revelation of the "spelling free-for-all" in the hour-long paper has angered traditionalists who say that children should be penalised for poor spelling.

Teaching spelling and good grammar is even more important in an era when children's ability to master it is threatened by the prominence of text messaging,

Mark Hoban, the Conservative education spokesman said. Is this the legacy of the sms? Right. Eye don bilivit. Why not blame it on the digital media invasion?