Schoolboy error

I Am glad the immigration watchdog has highlighted what many schools already know about a large number of so- called child refugees actually being adults (mail).

I have worked in a large mixed comprehensive school where child refugees were admitted as pupils. Schools are experienced at assessing ages and it was obvious to us which young people were presenting themselves as younger children.

I got the impression that the Border Force wanted to pass them through the system as quickly as possible. When concerns were raised, immigration staff and other agencies put the responsibility on the school to challenge the age of the ‘child’.

They did not appear to realise the child protection issue of having an adult male in a classroom with much younger girls. That said, genuine child refugees I dealt with were nice lads focused on learning English and playing football.

SUSAN FELLA, Enfield, Middlesex.