When I picked up my Friday Echo from the mat, my immediate reaction was "Nothing's changed".

There was a large headline on the Government's concern about academies, which I presume stemmed from Basildon Academies going into special measures".

What hadn’t changed was the smaller headline above it, boys being sent home for having their heads shaved.

Only the day before I had heard experts talking about teenagers unable to read.

Yet the major concern of teachers was what happens on top of boy's heads rather than what happens inside.

The same concern that not so many years ago was sending home boys for having long hair.

With the shaved head de rigeuer for many male policemen, TV presenters and balding politicians, it is a style that can hardly be categorised as inappropriate.

Were I still at school I would be very tempted to nip off to the barber.

Bob Rust
The Slades
Laindon