Professor Bill Boyle (“How to tell Left from Right”, Letters, 21 February) asserts that the mere mention of sound educational practices such as differentiation and learner-centred teaching leads to one being “immediately labelled as a disruptive lefty”.

I absolutely agree that these approaches are sound, but I beg to differ. The new special educational needs code of practice, part of the forthcoming Children and Families Bill, is emphatic that education should be needs-centred (that is, learner-centred). The UK Department for Education has been rigorous in its consultation with educational practitioners about this.

Professor Boyle’s comments show the gulf between academic theoreticians and frontline practitioners. The DfE has been listening to practising teachers. The resultant needs-centred approach is long overdue and is to be commended.

Garry Freeman, Leeds.