Geoff Barton is wrong that private schools measure their success by the number of pupils who aspire to become world leaders. Schools of all kinds pride themselves on their success in giving pupils chances to make the best of themselves. Rather than engaging in inverted snobbery and criticism of the success of private education, we should be opening up the private sector through tax relief, allowing everyone the chance of a private education if they wish. Social mobility is not about a former state school pupil becoming prime minister or the editor of a national newspaper, it is about giving every child the tools to better themselves.

David Hanson, Chief executive, Independent Association of Prep Schools.