PARENTS must be very puzzled, when their children start school, choosing the best school for them to go to.

What evidence do they have? Well, they have the 'word on the street' of other parents. They also have SATS league tables which measures the ability of the children, and the skills of the teachers in helping the children to realise that ability.

However, they also have the best measure of a school's effectiveness in the OFSTED reports. OFSTED measures each teacher's effectiveness and their ability to help the children realise their potential.

I find it fascinating that Studley Green and Longmeadow came bottom of the SATS league tables and yet were deemed 100 per cent satisfactory or better in their teaching ability. What would a league table look like based on teaching effectiveness? Which table should parents take most notice of?

ROD LAING,

Retired headteacher,

Wynsome Street,

Southwick.