How sad to hear that some pupils’ education begins in bingo halls and the like (“Rise of academies could leave standing room only elsewhere,” 13 July). But thankfully this issue is being brought out into the open. I have a bigger concern, however. What happens to pupils who bring along with them a track record of repeat fixed-term exclusions? Which academy is going to want them? Once again, the local authority will come to the rescue, but for how long? Growing pressure from Ofsted to be “good” will result in some schools taking the easy option and keeping naughty pupils out by converting. The domino effect begins as they get squeezed into fewer schools, resulting in a group of vulnerable pupils with nowhere to go.
Neil MacDougall, Leicester.