I WAS very lucky to be able to see Les Miserables at Ysgol Dewi Sant recently.

To see that number of children performing a quite difficult story to understand was quite amazing.

It will have taken a great deal of dedication, encouragement and understanding of young people by staff and others involved.

With all the criticisms of schools and pupils in the press about academic achievement, we must remember that as well as exam results (and we are not all capable of As, Bs and Cs) young people need to develop confidence.

Some young people can do this through sport and exercise, but emotional and social skills are the most important to build confidence to help them to cope with the challenges of adult life.

So academic achievement is important for those who have the capability, but all young people need to have people to listen and encourage, and Les Miserables was an excellent example of this.

SUSAN EVANS

Hakin