Are headteachers of Stoke’s 83 primary schools being automatically blamed for the fall in 11 year-olds’ test results (TES, October 3)? Will any acknowledgement be made of “differing cohorts” which to we pre-national curriculum mongers equate to “a wide range of ability levels”?

Accountability needs to be re-examined. If the blame and shame culture isn’t to be maintained, will those examining reasons for falls in attainment of very restricted (and restricting) test instruments be professional enough to cast their critical eyes to the broader, deeper curriculum experiences on offer?

Tim Peskett
Northampton