Students at Blatchington Mill School were leafleted by an anonymous anti-war group and, by now, many of their parents will be aware of the content.

Because it claims National Union of Teachers support, I am writing in the hope I can correct the leaflet's inaccuracies.

It begins by reminding of the headteacher's recent action against some of his students and says 'his view is not shared by the NUT'.

Since it does not actually state any alleged view by Mr Hunter and since no comments have been made about him by the NUT, I can unequivocally deny this claim.

All teachers are well aware of their duty of care to their students and are clear that to permit or encourage a student to leave the school premises for any reason other than

a school-organised and approved activity or with the clear permission of parents, would be in breach of this.

Any teacher, including the head, who did so could face disciplinary procedures.

The leaflet states the NUT regards Mr Hunter as a user of 'bully-boy tactics'.

This is a disgraceful slur both on a head of integrity, whose transactions with the NUT have always been characterised as fair and co-operative, and on the union to which this has been falsely ascribed.

It is unsurprising this leaflet is anonymous. It does not set out to inform students of a point of view and encourage debate, it is a piece of propaganda designed to incite them to create disruption.

It is clearly intended to exploit students in support of whatever agenda is being concealed behind the anti-war facade.

It devalues those millions of people, including many of those same students, who took part in the recent, properly organised anti-war marches to express their deeply felt convictions.

-RG Hubbard, past-president and case officer, Brighton and Hove NUT