AS a former and long serving head teacher of Kind Edmund School, I give my full support to the campaign spearheaded by Cllr Chris Wilmore for the future of secondary education in the Yate/Sodbury area and applaud the excellent analysis of the current situation in Yate by Derek and Maggie Wilcox in your last issue (Gazette, April 29).

Whatever the reasons, the impending loss of such an inspirational and caring head as Liz Shawhulme is sad indeed, for King Edmund School has a tradition of success of which it can be justly proud. While I am aware that many former pupils are pursuing very successful careers elsewhere in such areas as the law, education, medicine, industry and commerce, I constantly meet, almost on a daily basis, numerous law-abiding, hard-working and caring former pupils who are the backbone of society in the Yate/Sodbury area.

The withholding of financial support by South Gloucestershire Council, coupled with its apparent refusal to give moral support to the staff, parents and pupils in the school's current crisis, displays an unbelievable lack of sensitivity and justice for all concerned. In particular my total sympathy goes out to those countless pupils who have no control over their future destiny.

Cllr Sheila Cook, indeed, has such control: let's hope that she has the honesty and goodwill to debate the vital issue of the quality of future education in Yate, not the closure of one particular school, even at this late stage.

John Bullock Dowding Close Chipping Sodbury