I HAVE just received a watered-down copy of the Ofsted report relating to my children's school St Barnabas C of E in Green Lane, Worcester.

1) Do these inspectors not take into account that the children in each year vary in age, in some cases by almost 12 months?

My boys were born in July, and are at a slight disadvantage to those born in September.

Ten months is a big difference in the learning curve - therefore how can they expect all children to be at the same level?

2) Not all children have the capability to be rocket scientists as they seem to expect.

3) Give the parents some credit. We aren't incapable of deciding for ourselves which is and is not a good school for our children.

How many times do we read about children not being sent because the parents disapprove of the school allocated to them. We don't need inspectors to tell us that. Needless to say, St Barnabas in not my nearest school, but a 20-minute trek twice a day is well worth it.

4) Towards the end of the report it reads "she does not do enough to check on the teaching quality".

Just where exactly do they expect "her" to hold the broom while "she" sweeps the floor?

Surely it's common sense that a head teacher will surround herself with staff whose abilities she has faith in, not a bunch who need babysitting?

RUBY ADAMS,

Worcester.