I WAS delighted to read your leader column which highlighted the importance of tackling knife crime on all fronts, particularly within schools through education with children and young people.
What worries me as a parent is that not one school in Sunderland has taken up the option under the Education Act 1999 to have nominated staff trained to carry out pupil searches for knives and other weapons in schools.
While I appreciate that this power will only be used in extreme circumstances, it is essential for the safety and welfare of children and staff.
Why have schools not been made aware of this new legislation, particularly in this present climate of knife violence? Is this a local authority policy to sit on the fence until (God forbid) some child is stabbed at school before they act? Are headteachers waiting and hoping that the first incident in Sunderland will not take place at their school?
A basic hand-held metal detector can be purchased for as little as £80 and training can be delivered in less than a day. Let us act on this now.
You are right that we need to send out the right message that carrying a knife anywhere will not be tolerated and we do need to tackle this together on all fronts.
You have the support of all parents on this one.
Worried Parent,
Sunderland

Seeing the light
AFTER reading all those letters knocking our city – admittedly most of them from our friends up the road and the egocentric outpouring of Mick Brown – how ironic that it has taken two non-Mackems to realise what a special place we live in.
First it was Bryan Talbot with his masterpiece Alice in Sunderland and now Ian Watkins (H), currently appearing in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, who perceptively noted how light and open our city centre is compared to the claustrophobic hell-holes of some places,
Walter McKay,
Eversley Crescent,
Sunderland

Happy swimmer
AFTER reading the letters' page over the past few weeks, I felt it was about time someone supported our Aquatic Centre.
I agree it has had some teething problems, but I have been swimming at least twice a week since it opened for the grand total of £3.05 a session, not expensive by anyone's standard. You can get a family ticket for £11.
The water is just the right temperature; there is plenty of room to swim, even during busy periods. The grandchildren love it. Newcastle Road was freezing cold and too small during busy periods.
Come on, Sunderland, let's support our new centre.
P.S. It would be nice to have somewhere to park on match days.
Pauline Philliskirk

We mean business
AS the Prince's Trust celebrates the 25th anniversary of its business programme, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our volunteer business mentors, staff, supporters and donors who have made it possible for thousands of disadvantaged young people to launch enterprises and boost the North East's economy.
In the past five years alone, the Prince's Trust business programme has helped 2,166 young people from across the region to set up in business through low-interest loans, grants and mentoring for up to three years, with access to a new business club. We plan to support a further 360 before the year ends.
Fifty-eight per cent are still trading into their third year, which compares favourably with the national average. This is despite the fact that the young people we help have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law.
I am appealing to the region's best business brains to pass on their experience to the next generation or help towards offering start-up finance to some of the North East's brightest young minds. By working together to invest in our young people, we can add real value to our communities and our economy.
David Beavis,
North East regional director,
The Prince's Trust

Many advantages
I WRITE as a former headteacher (retired in 2004 after 21 years as headteacher of Bexhill School) regarding your article One Headteacher To Run Two Schools.
The unique opportunity has presented itself for the formation of a "soft federation" from next September. Bexhill Primary and Town End Primary schools are literally side by side, serve the same community (Town End Farm estate) and have manageable numbers (Bexhill approximately 280 and Town End approximately 180 mainstream pupils) for one headteacher to manage two sites.
In addition each school will have its own senior management team.
This is not uncommon, as many schools throughout the country are successfully managed as split sites: for example, separate infant and junior schools and upper and lower secondary schools often half a mile or more apart.
I can see many advantages, not least the sharing of resources and expertise in addition to community cohesion. I wish the partnership between Bexhill and Town End every success for the future.
DJ Smith