Benefits of shared history

One of England's most prominent black headteachers today backed moves to get more ethnic minority teachers into London schools provided they can do the job well.

William Atkinson, of Phoenix High School in White City, came from Jamaica aged seven and grew up in Battersea. He said: "I bring a history which is similar to some of the young people I teach. It does give one an additional insight into their behaviour."

But he added: "I was switched on to educationby a white teacher seeing in me a quality I didn't think I possessed."