AS THE school speech night season gets under way in East Lancashire, stand by for a torrent of self-acclaim for their achievements -- as borne out by the ever-rising levels of success by pupils in the GCSE and A-level examinations.

Congratulations, then, to Blackburn headmaster Dr David Hempsall, of Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, for starting off this year's procession of prize-nights with some honest truths.

Education is in steep decline; the examination system is beyond repair; and getting good grades is easier than it was, he said.

Dr Hempsall cites the conflicting demands of pupils, parents, teachers, universities and employers who all want exams to do different things. But if you ask me it is only the last lot in that list who really want exams to be a true measure of pupils' ability -- as, among the others, the pressure for dumbing down and lowered standards is to blame for the decline that he spells out.

We have universities lowering their A-level grade requirements for students in positive discrimination for the less-able ones. Now, there are disclosures of GCSE examination pass marks being lowered to prevent too many failing. When pupils go to university armed with these certificates, many need remedial lessons in basics.

I just hope that Dr Hempsall's qualification of the qualifications is borne in mind when the didn't-we-do-well? trumpets are being blown elsewhere.