Dr Brian Tew, psychologist in the Department of Child Health, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, is involved in a longitudinal study of children with spina bifida. He compares their educational attainments in adolescence with those of a group of non‐handicapped, matched at birth. He finds that the examination and employment prospects of some young people with spina bifida would be improved by transfer to an ordinary school and by further education and training after the statutory leaving ag