I recently heard a news story on the radio about new essential exam qualifications for entry into teaching. The item before had asked why intelligent young people, recently convicted, had behaved barbarically at a London railway terminus. It suggested that something was missing from their education - that is, the fostering of severe competition in exams might be to the exclusion of social cooperation. Teachers not only need to be literate and numerate but also able to educate young people in less easily measured skills. They must be selected for the profession with great care, for the sake of large numbers of youngsters and their own future happiness. Entrants should be the right kind of “people persons”. How can selection become better?

Michael Pulham, Retired careers counsellor.