School failings

The ethos of a school rests ultimately with its staff – all of its staff – academic and non-academic. If inspiration, aspiration and determination do not reside in the staff they should be not there.

This week we learn that a group of Chinese teachers brought in to the British school system for a reality TV show found pupils to be disruptive, rude and idle (your report, 3 August). Once again we have been found wanting.

As long as we tolerate second-rate teachers our schools and their pupils will at a disadvantage. Pupils are not guinea pigs in some educational experiment – each child gets but one bite at the educational cherry. Teachers who fail to inspire pupils to give of their best are letting down their pupils and their profession.

Doug Clark

Muir Wood Grove

Currie