It comes as no surprise to me, as a veteran teacher who avoids all such beanfeasts, to hear that so much money has been spent on a conference for heads and deputies (Oxford Mail, April 23).

It is called Continuing Professional Development and without a thick file of courses attended and conferences enjoyed, few teachers can expect to reach the upper levels of the hierarchy.

The content and value, let alone the necessity, of attending such courses might well be scrutinised by those interested in reducing the level of public spending (rather than chopping our libraries, of course).

I do fear, however, that your article may not have taken into account a few incidental costs.

For instance, surely all those who attended would have been entitled to travel expenses, either by car or by public transport.

This alone could add several thousands to the bill.

The real losers here are the pupils, because the money spent on this one conference could probably have paid the salary of two or three teachers for a year.

What does seem strange to me is that no-one seems to realise that those teachers who attended the conference have access to superb educational facilities in their own schools: halls and classrooms equipped with state-of the-art presentational equipment, access to computing suites and, assuming the dinner staff could have been tempted into a little overtime for a tiny share of what this conference actually cost, excellent catering facilities.

No bars and comfy bedrooms, though.

While this current financial crisis persists, would it not be prudent for all those involved in education to think hard before they spend precious resources about this one question: will the money I am about to spend directly benefit the pupils in my care?

Martin Roberts, Stone Close, Botley, Oxford