Letter: Top of the class

Sir: In all the talk of failing teachers, I have not seen or heard any mention of the role of teacher training colleges and education departments. Surely it is still one of their functions to assess the suitability of students to teach.

In 1949 I was one of 130 teaching students examined in academic and teaching ability at the end of a teacher training course. Nine of my colleagues failed the exam. Some were offered a further year's training. Some were not.

N V COLLINS

Hertford