I agree with Ed Balls’ sentiments (TES, July 20) about allowing children to have conker and snowball fights. However, with respect, he isn’t the one in the front line having to manoeuvre a school through our topsy-turvy, politically correct, compensation-conscious society.
Children are only wrapped up in cotton wool because a few parents are wrapped up in getting compensation windfalls. Moreover, it is difficult to apply good old-fashioned common sense to a legal system that seems to be more geared to winning cases and apportioning blame than to justice and fair outcomes.
Having said all that, and despite the risks, I will be allowing my pupils to have snowball fights next year, but only in the summer term.
Kevin Bullock
Headteacher and National Consultant Leader,
Suffolk
