A male secondary head calls a female primary colleague “heidie woman”. Disparaging, yes. So, Eddie Morrison (Letters, last week), if the misogynist cap fits, wear it.

And, in complaining about chartered teachers, if he finds that his staff do not confide in him, the inference is indeed that he has an autocratic management style or keeps staff at a distance.

I am not a chartered teacher, but I have read the standard. The only chartered teacher in our school achieved this by her own exertions, so why should she not be remunerated accordingly?

She also offers help to others wanting to follow the same path. Her ambition to become a chartered teacher was known to our headteacher, who apparently did not believe he had an inalienable right to “select” her, but rather a duty to encourage and support her.

Not all headteachers are defensive: methinks Steady Eddie “doth protest too much”.

H.M Wilson, maths teacher, Torr an Eas, Glenfinnan, Lochaber.