LAST week, I had the enormous pleasure of hearing the brass band of Chagford Primary School. Considering that the youngest of the musicians is under six years old, they produce a remarkably good sound. Some of the young players clearly have very special talents. I suspect that it is unique for a primary school of this size to have a brass band at all, let alone such a good one. Chagford?s example shows how important it is for individual schools to have the freedom to make use of the particular talents of their teachers and pupils. It is a shame that the Government does not leave more scope to teachers to make full use of their professional skills to inspire children. Teachers have a far better sense of the priorities and aptitudes of their pupils than bureaucrats in Whitehall. David Walter Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for West Devon and Torridge
