What an interesting contrast between Gerard Kelly’s final editorial (“Not a long goodbye, but a heartfelt one”, 30 August) and the young teacher describing her experiences to Mike Kent (“Give us a break”, 13 September). Mr Kelly seemed to feel that apart from the wretched unions, everything was fine and dandy in today’s education world. The teacher told us why it isn’t.

Editors in their lofty publishing towers or secretaries of state who say “There has never been a better time to be a teacher” have no idea of current classroom reality and the extraordinary stress that so many in the teaching profession are under. I know whose version of reality most readers will choose to believe.

Andrew Claythorpe, Westgate-on-Sea, Kent.