Anthony Seldon forgets two things (Comment, 23 September). First, what if pupils elect representatives who disagree with the rules and are not prepared to be hypocritical about it? Second, who makes the rules? I watched film The Caine Mutiny again and believe that Captain Queeg would have fitted in perfectly as a headmaster. When children break petty rules about appearance and uniform, who are they hurting? How is a boy in Velcro trousers or a girl in a miniskirt or Alice band affecting anyone else’s ability to learn? Teachers should be concerned with what pupils have in their heads, not their hair.

Mark Taha, London