OK Andy. Things have changed, but then presumably changed back again. I was the first ATCO to enter the "Ministry" who had not undertaken the standard Primary Course. This didn't go down too well at Heathrow - some people were mightily upset and I had to work hard to prove that I was up to scratch. Oh yes, I only have two O levels and I got in purely on my past ATC experience which was in a foreign country. I don't follow why HR currently will not recruit similarly qualified ATCOs?