It is all very well for (Independent Schools Council chief executive) David Lyscom to point out that many independent schools share facilities with nearby comprehensives, but that illustrates the fact that only the bigger schools are able to do this and absorb costs.

The same argument can be deployed concerning bursaries. Your editorial is correct to state that many of the smaller (mostly prep) schools will struggle to afford them and that the commission should define what proportion of income it expects schools with charitable status to devote to them.

I wonder, after being “led round the houses” by the Charity Commission for years, if the schools singled out understood what they were doing when they applied for charitable status?

Christopher Price, Co-owner, Merton Court School, Sidcup, Kent.