I read the article “The many and the few”, about the divergence of students reaching top universities, with interest that subsided to boredom (Cover story, 21 October). You took five valuable pages of TES to say what is simply common sense and requires no high-level thinking or costly government research papers, surveys, reports etc.

Students with decent universities nearby would rather live at home while at university than live away at a top university.

Why? Money, of course! As pointed out in the final column of the article, Cockermouth School is set in a remote location and local university options are virtually non-existent. Students have to leave home anyway, so may as well apply to a top university.

Alex Kourpas, Newthorpe, Nottingham.