Wow. That’s some impressive prejudice Gavin Kensit displays in his letter about bad behaviour on theatre trips (11 November).

I am always bemused that state-school teachers feel entitled to make disparaging comments about colleagues in the independent sector. I recognise that working at a private school is not everyone’s choice. However, it is simply that: a career choice. It is not a decision to hunt seals for a living. It is not an activity that deserves the bile, vitriol or self-satisfied, holier-than-thou blandishments that are regularly seen on the TES forums and in letters such as this.

I enjoy a good badly-conceived rant as much as the next person, but I find Mr Kensit snide and smug when he writes: “I work (at a school) that embraces all walks of life.” Good for you. The original writer obviously teaches lessons in how best to throw stones at the working class.

I have never heard a colleague at an independent school speak of the job done by those in the state sector with anything short of respect, admiration and - at times - awe. I rarely hear anything short of derision, suspicion and distaste coming the other way.

Paul-James Merrell, Hatfield, Hertfordshire.