I WAS heartened to note that Charles Clarke is to address the difficulties that schools have raising the pound;50,000 they need to gain specialist status (TES, November 1). I was deeply distressed to see the valiant efforts of enthusiastic teachers, with the endorsement of the then Culture Secretary, Chris Smith, cruelly dashed after a tireless campaign which left us not far short of our target, but our ultimate dream unrealised.
Julian Corlett
Redbourne House
Queensway
Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire
