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The A-level results came out last week, and, as ever, the media was awash with reports of 'dumbing down' and exams getting easier. The same reaction met the Higher results a couple of weeks back. The GCSE results, which are released later this week, are .

Am I alone in thinking this is sour grapes?

Apparently not. about the criticism of this year's crop of A-level passes, and about 'inverted ageism -- that anti-youth attitude which seems to be becoming the country's favourite brand of bigotry' was both compelling and, sadly, I think, true.

The rising pass rate raises expectations year on year, putting more pressure on our young people to do better and aim higher. And yet, when they invariably succeed, they are neither credited with this success nor allowed to enjoy their rewards - the same media who told them that they must get straight A's are now telling them that their new qualifications are not up to scratch. Hardly a positive message. What is it about success we find so difficult to accept? Could it be that learners and teachers alike are just getting better?

this morning raises interesting questions - if Usain Bolt and the like can continue to run faster and faster, beating the old records that no one thought could be broken, why can't learners get smarter and smarter? He does, however, believe that hunger for success leads to grade inflation.

None of this cancels out the fact that our most recently qualified young people are entering into the toughest job market in decades and face more competition for places in further and higher education than ever before. They will need the skills they have developed at school, now more than ever. Let's stop queuing up to tell them that it was harder in our day (whenever that day may have been!) and applaud them and their teachers and parents who made it possible.