If the Blair administration wants a genuine revolution in education it should establish the right of every pupil to learn in all UK schools. This would also remove one of the major disincentives to becoming and remaining a teacher.
Pupils in a disorderly classroom are being derived of this right. Teachers should be in relaxed and assured control of proceedings. The failure to ensure good discipline in all classes is the single biggest barrier to raising standards.
Terry Haydn School of education University of EastAnglia Norwich, Norfolk
