Simon, I am not sure if anything I have said is about teacher accountability or the lack thereof. I think it an almost barren appoach - a distraction - an opportunity cost - ie money that could be better spent

The law of marginal returns applies to education as to economics. Would it not be better to attempt to raise the standards preschool so that extraordinary efforts do not have to be made at school to remedy. I would postulate that some things can not be remedied if not achieved early in life. A classic example is the learning of languages. The 'fourth grade slump" is a good example of quality teaching some times being an illusion or short term and the reasons for it is well worth the attention of anyone interested in education

I really disappoints me that when we now are starting to understand what parent behaviours(it is not SES pe se, but it helps) increase the social and educational achievement of children.I love not teachers but in all seriousness folks we are hardly likely to attract talent if there is a strong social disinsentive with this pointless carping criticism of the poor sods. Have a good day.