Letter: Brightest spurned

Sir: The report from the Commons Education and Employment Committee notes "the needs of children of high ability are not seen as a priority by teachers and schools" ("Brightest pupils are `betrayed' ", 29 April).

The Government has introduced a performance measurement system into state schools. For primary schools the measure is the percentage of pupils achieving level 4 or above at Key Stage 2 and no additional benefit derives from pupils achieving above level 4.

Hence, the governors of any state school who use state funds on pupils to stretch them above level 4 must be risking a charge of misuse of public funds.

G P LOOSEMORE

Governor of a "very good" state primary school

Solihull,

West Midlands