School sweets ban

SIR – I have a few comments about your recent story about the fantastic Wood End School in Harpenden. On the question of your paper s coverage of this, and the football story earlier in the year, I feel you have irresponsibly exagerated and sensationalise

SIR - I have a few comments about your recent story about the fantastic Wood End School in Harpenden.

On the question of your paper's coverage of this, and the football story earlier in the year, I feel you have irresponsibly exagerated and sensationalised the facts by reporting the views of only one disgruntled parent, thereby casting a negative shadow on what is clearly, by any standards of judgement (Ofsted included), an excellent school.

I believe the press should not be allowed to interfere with the head's and the governers' rights to govern the school as they see fit.

On the specific question of the birthday sweets,Wood End is not the first, or only, school to not allow them.

As a parent of a child with a life-threatening food allergy I whole heartedly support the head with her decision: nearly every time sweets are handed out my child feels deeply uncomfortable as they know they cannot eat them.

I, for one, am delighted that the school has outlawed this discrimination against children with food allergies. If, say, all children with a certain sized foot had to miss out in a similar way would the practise have even been allowed to start?

Not risking the life of pupils is surely more important than a bag of sweets.

GLYN JENKINS

Acacia Walk, Harpenden