Letter: Pupils too must carry the can

Sir: You say that John Major intends to sack teachers whose pupils fail to match up to national standards ("Bad results to cost jobs of teachers", 12 February). Doesn't the Conservative Party believe in personal responsibility any more?

Twenty years ago a pupil of mine gatecrashed St John's College May Ball twice, and was then arrested whilst trying to steal a bicycle. His tutor rescued him from the cells, pleading that he was due to sit an examination that morning. The pupil fell asleep, and failed his O-level.

If behaviour like this is to result in the sacking of a teacher rather than the punishment of the pupil, won't it encourage all students to do the same?

Rev TOM AMBROSE

Director of Communications

Diocese of Ely

Ely, Cambridgeshire