Letter: Struggling schools

Sir: As a retired primary school headmaster I am bemused by the anxious concern about "mixed age" teaching (leading article, 4 June). Since when has birth control been so honed as to provide children in neatly packaged age groups to fit each school's individual requirements? In any case a child's reading age is more important in the planning of work than chronological age.

The priority should be for reduction of class sizes. Then perhaps as much emphasis could be placed on class organisation as on curriculum content.

W GLYN JONES

Bolton, Greater Manchester