Peter Wilby writes in support of specialist schools (TES, October 31). Only large metropolitan areas can support the number of schools necessary to offer pupils and parents a realistic choice. Elsewhere, their random distribution makes them an irrelevance, although it is understandable that hard-pressed schools should be keen to get the extra funding that specialist status brings with it.
Most parents would settle for a school reasonably near to their home, sufficiently well staffed and resourced to offer a good general curriculum.
At a time when we are trying to cut down on car use and improve the fitness of our children it is perverse for the Government to be promoting a policy that can only encourage more polluting, cross-city car journeys.
CR Clark
34 Vicarage Drive
Eastbourne
East Sussex
