A slap in the face

I have spent the last 40 years as a teacher and a tutor and I totally reject this form of humiliation.

Why were students who had achieved a C grade in mock exams entered on this list? A ‘C’ is, after all, a ‘pass’ grade.

There will be many students for whom a ‘C’ or a lower grade represents a huge effort, undeserving of such a slap in the face. I have found January mock results can be improved by at least a grade by the summer.

The last thing needed here is the sort of insensitivity displayed at Larkmead.

Teachers have a paramount duty of care to those for whom they are responsible. Lowering self-esteem smacks more of the bully than the carer.

Individual teachers are judged by heads of department who in turn are judged by head teachers who are judged by statistics interpreted and inspected by Ofsted.

The tick-box, statistics-driven approach engendered by the demands which come down from on high (and from governments of all political hue) is seen as the only way to avoid a poor inspection result.

Newspapers can bear a certain responsibility as we never see those creeping out of the back entrance with unsatisfactory results reported on.

MARTIN ROBERTS, Stone Close, Botley