Just reviving an ancient thread with this:

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Pupils 'cannot be called clever'
 
Teachers should stop calling bright pupils "clever" for fear they might not be considered "cool" by classmates, a union has been told.

Instead they should refer to academic high-achievers as "successful", the Professional Association of Teachers' conference in Oxford heard.

Simon Smith, a teacher from Essex, said it was important to avoid a culture which "mocks being clever".

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It's a worry that Simon is in a position to influence the academic future of so many children.  If I had kids at that school, I'd have to seriously question whether he was 'successful' enough to teach them!