To think DR Richard Saul is dangerous and offensive for publishing a book called ADHD does not exist.

[soul2000]

Dr Richard Saul also believes that Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and other neurological conditions are fake.

The problem is you have got people like "Peter Hitchens" continually writing rubbish like this. The likes of Michael Gove probably believes this too ,hence the disgraceful abolition of extra marks for pupils suffering with these conditions.

Children can be verbally excellent, but cannot put thoughts and ideas down on paper. They become frustrated that people cannot recognize how bright there are.

People like Richard Saul believe the reason for not being able to write well is down, to 1. being lazy 2. being thick. They are dangerous charlatans who are trying to take education and help back 30 years.

Thanks for this, soul, I see the new GCSE specs for Literature have a more emphatic reference to quality of written English; it used to be 4 marks, but that was some time ago.

I've seen a science paper where 6 marks out of 30 was for SPAG, so yes, a lot. I can't re-find it now. Curses.

At advanced level, I can see how it might be useful because a student might not have done English after GCSE. Can't really see the point of SPG at GCSE as they all have to do English, so any issues will show in that result, so yes, increasing SPAG at GCSE looks pointless and unfairly discriminates against the dyslexic.

As a point of comparison, here in Victoria you cannot get onto any degree course without English/Literature at VCE (think A) level. It's the only compulsory subject in the exam system. Lots of courses are very specific about the score they expect for English above all others.

Any way, back to the UK, Gove does appear to ploughing his furrow of being an arse with some determination.

there can be a problem with certain individuals selecting what they want from the article (publication bias) therefore distorting what was said. You tend to get this with any published research.
Peter Hitches and Gove are arses but there is still need for debate and better diagnosis on ADHD and similar conditions.

Hitchen - sorry