Your front page report on September 3, “Pay and conditions at risk”, suggested that, as an organisation, ADES has been considering ways to cut education budgets.

But all the examples given are subject either to national negotiation (teachers’ pay and conditions of service) or local negotiation (use of nursery teachers, continuing professional development, management time, absence cover). A pre-determined ADES view on teachers’ conditions, were it to exist, would not be helpful in the real world of local negotiation and national collective bargaining.

As an independent professional organisation, ADES is often asked to give advice and is represented on key national committees. This advisory role has been maintained over many years, demonstrating that ADES is valued and trusted across the education community.

Leslie Manson, president, Association of Directors of Education in Scotland.