As a teacher of 10 years’ experience, I was disappointed to read of Tony Blair’s vague and woolly plans for education (TES, May 5).
Instead of approaching the Government’s infatuation with “standards” and performance tables, Labour should be concerned with improving the quality of education offered by our schools. Its priority should be to reduce class sizes.
By whatever criteria it is measured, pupil performance would undoubtedly improve if small class sizes were enforced. The recent suggestion by the Government that there isn’t a link between achievement and class size is as idiotic as saying that the quality of health care is unaffected by the ratio of health workers to patients.
Although I wouldn’t describe myself as “an extreme left-winger”, I shall remain sceptical as to the wisdom of David Blunkett’s proposals until he announces positive plans to tackle this thorny issue.
HAMISH WILSON
44 Ickleford Road Hitchin Herts
