My 10-year-old daughter is at a top independent school but has probably only read a maximum of six books in the past two years. This means that not only is her English suffering but she is also poor at other subjects, as success is dependent on comprehension skills. How can I get her to read more?

ASS, by e-mail

Some children have no interest in worthwhile books. If they read at all they read trash.

Back off if it has become an issue – confrontation will get you nowhere. Talk to your daughter’s English teacher about children’s fiction with a strong storyline that might capture your child’s imagination. Encourage her to watch television and film versions of interesting literature. Read the book yourself and talk about it: she may get sucked in.

To be optimistic you may find that literature has an increasing appeal as she enters adolescence and becomes more interested in relationships.

My son and daughter-in-law live in Vienna and their three boys are at the Vienna International school. It is a school of some 1,200 pupils, from preschool to IB, on one campus. They have now learnt that a large expansion is planned, which will result in about 1,800 pupils on the same site. Where can we find reliable information on the optimum size of schools, particularly with reference to multicultural ones?

M M Nicholas Oxfordshire

The argument for larger schools is that there are significant economies of scale, students have access to more specialised courses, and libraries and other facilities are likely to be better.

There has, however, been a great deal of research into school size and the overwhelming conclusion is that small is good. A secondary school of fewer than 1,000 pupils is more likely, it appears, to nurture a sense of belonging and community and, as a result, students in smaller schools tend to achieve better results.

Common sense suggests that this may well be the case, though I do think it depends on how large schools are organised and, of course, the quality of the pastoral care. Google “research into school size” for more information.

My daughter is at present revising for AS retakes. She seems to work hard but insists that having her radio on or MP3 player playing does not put her off. I argue that if this was the correct way to work then all schools would have Radio 1 on in class. I am at my wits’ end, can you advise please?

KH, by e-mail

My advice to you is give up. You will never change your daughter. She lives in a world where silence is not so much an aid to concentration as a threat.

If you have a question for Chris Woodhead, write to him c/o The Sunday Times, 1 Pennington Street, London E98 1ST or e-mail him, with your name and address, at education-questions@ sunday-times.co.uk

Times recommends

• Pupils to be given lessons on debt
• Children 'reaching 3 without saying a word'
• Tories want children in care at boarding school