In his editorial, Gerard Kelly suggests that some independent schools are not supporting state academies for reasons that “are fast becoming unsustainable excuses”. Such “unsustainable excuses” include stretched financial resources during a prolonged recession, offering means-tested bursaries, a commitment to maintaining low fees to maximise social diversity within schools and the fact that private school parents are already subsidising the sector by paying twice for their children’s education. Mr Kelly is welcome to visit my school and experience the reality of providing high-quality education in difficult times.

John Tranmer, Headmaster of the Froebelian School and former chairman of the Independent Association of Prep Schools.