Providing individual iPads for school pupils, as is currently being proposed in Otley, is on the face of it an attractive proposition.

In a world that is so increasingly dependent on technology, we should be giving our young every opportunity to become adept in the many ICT skills they will undoubtedly need when they eventually enter the world of employment.

So a scheme like that currently being put forward by Prince Henry’s Grammar School for Key Stage 3 students certainly sounds, in principle, a sound one.

But the fly in the ointment is the significant cost (or ‘donation’ to a ‘partner charity’) that parents are being asked to make – some £360 over three years, at a recommended £10 per month – to fund the project.

As some concerned parents contacted us to point out this week, that would see the overall contribution (including a final £40 fee after those three years for anyone wishing to actually keep the device) exceeding the current cost of an iPad 4 – with iPad 2s available online for under £300.

The school, by holding three meetings for parents and carers, has certainly made an effort to consult fully about the scheme, and insists it won’t proceed unless an “overwhelming” majority of parents support it.

That is only right, but we still have some sympathy with those parents who feel they are being pressured into a pricey arrangement and fear being stigmatised should they oppose it.

There are also, of course, wider concerns about going down a path that sees parents effectively being asked to subsidise state schools.

Pilot highlights serious issues

As an airline pilot who was three times over the legal limit begins a prison sentence this week, his case highlights a number of serious issues.

Potentially catastrophic consequences could have resulted if Irfan Faiz had not been prevented from flying the Airbus 310 out of Leeds Bradford.

And the ‘deeply disturbing’ case has highlighted the fact that some international pilots are apparently unaware of the alcohol rules governing the skies over Britain. The court heard that in Pakistan pilots were allowed to drink any amount as long as there was a 12 hour gap from ‘bottle to throttle.’ And evidence given on the shamed pilot’s behalf suggested that he and other pilots were ignorant of the strict rules in the UK.

It is incredible to think that this could be the case. Surely any pilot flying in and out of this country should be aware of the laws governing their conduct here. Under Pakistani rules Mr Faiz – who had drunk threequarters of a litre of alcohol – would apparently still have been deemed capable of flying the plane.

The security staff who prevented him from taking off not only averted a possible tragedy but also inadvertently highlighted very worrying variations in aviation safety standards around the globe.