I am sure that England is not the only country finding it difficult to recruit educational leaders (”‘High stakes’ are putting teachers off leadership”, 17 May), although the scale of the problem is particularly acute here. It’s not just the politics of education but the demands being made on principals. To meet these, leaders need the ruthlessness of Cesare Borgia; the acting skill of Meryl Streep; the financial acumen of George Soros; the charm of Mata Hari; the carapace of Margaret Thatcher; and the disarming ambivalence of Michael Gove. No wonder there is a shortage of suitable candidates.

Colin Richards, Spark Bridge, Cumbria.