Your report on Chris Woodhead’s speech to the Professional Association of Teachers’ conference in Glasgow (TES, August 1) was such a relief and pleasure to read.
It is clear that the Government’s more positive approach to education has resulted in efforts to make all the senior officials speak with a common purpose. It was a pleasant change to hear Mr Woodhead praising teachers, the role of inspectors as advisers and the importance of the Teacher Training Agency.
Concessions by the chief inspector should be matched by some agreement within the profession to act on some of his observations. I hope that teachers, the inspectorate, the agency and the Department for Education and Employment will all pull together.
I must pay tribute to Mr Woodhead’s courtesy, efficiency and willingness to listen to critics, even though he is determined to stand his ground on quality. If teachers have a champion with the drive, intellect and grittiness of the chief inspector, there will be little that the education system cannot achieve.
TED GUYVER
41 Meon Road Mickleton, Chipping Campden Gloucestershire
