YEAR after year we read of ethnic minority pupils’ GCSE exam results. But it was hoped that Patrick Tolani (Oxford Mail, May 11), apart from being worried like the rest of us, would have practical advice about the study patterns that he used to enable him to be in the position he is in today.

This would be a useful example to children.

Maybe Mr Tolani should do his own research on how much time these students spent on homework?

Are parents helping with homework? And do these pupils have two parents to help them?

Ideas on home furnishings can help. Do pupils have comfortable chairs and spacious writing and reading areas, and an adequate bookcase to stack books in an orderly way?

These ideas may seem too simple, but I can assure they work wonders for concentration and confidence building.

It has always been my parents’ belief that learning begins in the home, and coming from Jamaica to live in England at the age of 13, my parents’ ideas continued to serve my own children, who studied their way into university.

Perhaps other parents will write in to give ideas to help raise education achievement.

Olive McIntosh-Stedman, Oxfordshire county councillor, Williamson Way, Rose Hill, Oxford