THE letter headed 'Well done to all the rest' (Dear Star, Feruary 22) fills me with concern.

The writer begins by praising the work of teachers and schools who have not had the public praise recently given to some schools in the report of the Chief Examiner of Schools (not Ofsted, as your correspondent suggests). As a teacher for 35 years, I would applaud that. There are unsung heroes in schools and in all walks of life.

Had your correspondent left it there, one would merely have agreed with the comment. Unfortunately that praise for others is used merely in a sort of vendetta against a school for which the writer feels a grudge and the letter continues by making unjustified and unjustifiable comments.

An Ofsted report deals with the whole ethos of a school and its attempts to put that into practice and with every aspect of a school's life; mere 'academic performance' is a minor aspect of such a report.

In addition, no state school, except a grammar school, can select pupils by 'cherrypicking' or choosing only the 'privileged' as your correspondent claims. Anyone who has dealt with school admissions and appeals, as I have, knows that only too well.

It is such a pity to denigrate any school (and its pupils and staff) which has been honoured, and we are lucky in St Helens to have, this year, three such schools. All teachers and schools have their share of problems these days and deserve praise for what they try to do.

VERY angry resident, Newton-le-Willows, (name and address supplied).