BEFORE the latest revelations about Queen s School, my wife and I were already hearing alarming stories from our grand-daughter, who is a pupil there. Getting information about the school from the school itself is difficult, but the knife culture seems t

BEFORE the latest revelations about Queen's School, my wife and I were already hearing alarming stories from our grand-daughter, who is a pupil there.

Getting information about the school from the school itself is difficult, but the knife culture seems to be endemic, not to speak of mobiles in the classroom, and extreme disruption by a significant minority of pupils.

There are some good teachers, who are welcomed with respect and open arms in the classroom. However, various teachers of seemingly indifferent ability float in and out, sometimes leaving the classrooms unattended, resulting in general mayhem.

What is a pupil, who really wants to be taught well, and wishes to learn as much as possible, to make of all this?

The remedy is surely obvious. A stronger leadership, and a stepping up of the discipline that the school is crying out for, is the only answer.

But will it happen? I doubt it, because no teachers worth their salt will want to come to a school with this reputation.

The Ofsted public meeting was a shambles, as expected, with failing microphones, and again no authoritative speakers to take the chair and control the increasingly voluble, intolerant public, who were obviously as frustrated as we were.

In passing, a bit of solid support for the teachers from the parents, who increasingly seem to think an attack on the teachers is the answer, and who all too often think their offspring are innocence itself, might not come amiss.

These teachers are obviously struggling, so could certainly do with this support. Years 10/11 are the worst possible time for this to happen to our grand-daughter, as her whole future will be affected. So we are hoping for the best, while fearing the worst!

S ROGERS

Wisbech