So Gillian Shephard, the Education Secretary, wants to find out “what makes a good school good, and what makes a failing school bad” (TES, May 26).
She obviously hasn’t noticed the various studies that have been done on exactly that question in the past two years, or, even better, asked the parents (or children) of any half-decent school.
They’d tell her that a good, effective school has strong leadership, excellent standards of work and behaviour, policies which are understood and believed in by the staff and a lively and stimulating atmosphere.
Come to think of it, those are also the requirements of a good effective government. Perhaps that tells us something.
MIKE KENT
Comber Grove primary school Comber Grove London SE5