Letter: Schools old and new

Sir: I went to school well before the golden era of Woodhead.

Yes, we cut and pasted, and while we did it we talked (quietly) to the children sharing our table and began to understand how other people were. Sometimes we listened to our teacher reading. Sometimes we sat and thought. Sometimes we were tired, and fell asleep with our heads on the desk. Sometimes we "day-dreamed".

But we still grew up being able to compare like with like. Mr Woodhead states that five years ago 20-30 per cent of inspected lessons were deemed unsatisfactory or poor. So 70-80 per cent were satisfactory or good. Now 50 per cent are good, he adds. Enough said: you can keep your literacy and numeracy hours.

GILL DRAPER

Sevenoaks, Kent