IT was a pity that your very abbreviated account of The Chase headteacher Kevin Peck's report at the school's recent speech day quoted only his celebration of outstanding academic success.

We are, of course, justly proud of our students' results, but Mr Peck went on immediately to applaud the huge range of our sporting, vocational and extra-curricular activities and achievements.

This broader emphasis reflects the ethos of the school, as I can testify from my years as chair of governors. I am pleased to have been involved, a good few years ago, in formulating our mission statement: "This school seeks to encourage and reward excellence of every kind, to enable all students to achieve their full potential and become successfully independent and to stress the importance of caring inter-dependence."

Heather Williamson, Churchdown Road, Malvern.