Since my arrival as Head teacher at The Priory School nearly four years ago, I have not had cause, until now, to express concern about the fairness of your paper s reporting. However, I feel I must reply to a recent article in which a parent was allowed t

Since my arrival as Head teacher at The Priory School nearly four years ago, I have not had cause, until now, to express concern about the fairness of your paper's reporting.

However, I feel I must reply to a recent article in which a parent was allowed to make biased allegations about our school's response to his daughter's experience of bullying. Every school has its bullies and every good school aims to deal with it promptly and effectively. The Priory School is no exception to this practice. What is most disheartening, though, is the readiness of our local media to air the partial views of a few parents who seek to undermine the professional integrity and authority of teachers. What hope do schools have of maintaining young people's respect for authority when that authority is so publicly and unreasonably challenged?

Peter Loach, Headteacher

EDITOR'S COMMENT: The story was based on an anti-bullying device produced by a parent and the school was contacted concerning this important issue. A comment by Peter Loach was published.