With many pupils' spelling standards falling, the Government is attempting to raise the standards of spelling in primary schools across the country by introducing tough new spelling tests.

The Cornish Times have taken to the streets of Liskeard once more to ask: 'Does spelling matter?'

Ms Caroline Scriviner with her four year old son, Callum, said: 'Spelling does matter. I test my children's spelling at home as they should learn how to spell, it's discipline and a learning process. My daughter Amy can spell well at eight years old. I don't think that the National Curriculum tests are too hard too early, if the children can learn how to spell earlier then it can't be bad.'

Ann Demaine said: 'I don't think we expect enough from children these days. As an employer I see frequent bad spelling and grammatical errors on job applications even from people with university degrees. I have three children, Oliver (3), Tom (6) and Lucy (7) and I make sure that they do their spellings. Using computers with built in spellchecks is all well and good but they can't be used for everything.'

Angie Hancock with her four year old son, Rory, was asked in Fore Street, 'Does spelling matter?'

She said: 'Spelling does still matter. The government is going back to the basics in primary and junior schools. It's no good relying on computer spellchecks as they can let you down.'

She continued: 'My two children, Thomas and Rory go to the Infant school in West Street and the school really emphasises parent, teacher and pupil relationships. The parents are encouraged to back up the teachers and get involved with their children's work.

'I always give as much encouragement as possible to my children when they get given spellings to learn. I try to make it fun so they will want to learn. Parents need to get involved in their child's education and the children do need their parents support.'

Angie concluded: 'Goi-ng through life with bad spelling and grammar could affect a person's job prospects.

'Submitting written job applications which have bad spelling and grammar can mean that they get put to the bottom of the list to get an interview and a future employer may assume that the applicant is not well educated.'

Alan Parkinson said: 'Yes, spelling does matter. In my opinion children don't read enough any more, When reading you can absorb the correct spelling and grammar which helps in the learning process. I've had two children and I've always tried to encourage their learning and help them.'

Mrs J. Walters, in town with her three and a half year old granddaughter Katherine Hammond, said: 'Yes, spelling does matter. Bad spelling and grammar on a job application would affect a person's job prospects.

' Children do need to be taught how to spell correctly, as they will always need it for some reason.'

A comment that was made by a member of the public was: 'One of the reason children's spellings and grammar are so bad is that teachers are not making it right for them in the first place.'

Bob and Elaine Walkey said: 'Spelling is very important, the 'basics' are important.

'Children can absorb spelling better through reading it from books, but children don't read enough any more - they prefer to watch television.'

Elaine continued: 'I think that spelling and grammar would matter on job applications if certain words and phrases were consistently wrong.'

The spelling tests that the government is introducing will not be turned into the formal exams such as the National Curriculum test, currently set at ages seven, 11 and 14. Instead schools will have the right to decide how they are arranged.

Millennium poser!

The Cornish Times took to the streets of Liskeard in relation to the 'Does Spelling Matter?' Have your Say to ask: 'How do you spell Millennium?'

Out of 20 people asked only five adults could spell Millennium correctly. Variations on the word included missing out the double N or L, but other more adventurous spellings included: Millinum and Millinium.

Some words that people do regularly get 'stuck' on are: tired, angle and angel, Wednesday, separate, receive, receipt and doilies. Many people said any words with ie's or ei's.