As the seventh-graders held forth, student Chris Gregory noticed one of the teachers passing the table opening a package of Twinkies and popping one in his mouth.

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But he demanded "serious and urgent round table talks" between head teachers, the Department for Education, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to work out a way of giving sport greater prominence on the school timetable.

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Teachers have been an equal partner at the table.

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Speaking of Mr. Bloomberg, he said: "We told him from day one that the agreement that was on the table did not stop him from disciplining teachers, " he said.

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Academies do not have to stick zealously to the national curriculum, for example, and they are not constrained by the national pay deals for teachers that hobble their counterparts elsewhere in the state sector (see table).

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And I know that might be a hassle having them sitting at the table with you, but what that does is because the teachers are sitting with you, what they've seen is that you're more inclined to eat more fruits and vegetables, and so are your teachers.

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Russell Hobby, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said he hoped any changes might "reduce the tyranny of the league table" - but that much would depend on how the government interpreted the findings.

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