”‘Strong’ silence is a sound strategy”(TESpro 11 January) interested me greatly. There are two things I would add. One is that, as a teacher, the most powerful tool in my armoury was to do the reverse of my instincts regarding volume. When I was happy with my class I was ebullient and loud. But if things were not as I would have liked, I was quiet and would whisper, “I will have a word with you outside.” The second point is that using silent gaps in question and answer sessions is immensely useful. Thank you for drawing attention to this often overlooked tool.

David Hanson, Chief executive, Independent Association of Prep Schools.