Steven Rose’s article makes for challenging but uplifting reading. Yet for those of us involved in education it is immaterial whether genes do, or do not, affect educability. It is literally and metaphorically an “academic question”, to which Mr Rose provides a compelling answer. As teachers we work on maximising the contributions of favourable environments. We cannot affect genetics; we can, however, give young people opportunities to learn. True, they will not learn at the same rate, in the same way or to the same degree. But all have the right to learn and we have the privilege of assisting that process.

Colin Richards, Spark Bridge, Cumbria.