I think that Gerard Kelly fails to do justice to the injustice of Department for Education brokerage when he discusses the need to “get tough” where schools resist forced conversion. Such schools need governors with determination and educational bloody-mindedness if they are to resist the threats and machinations of DfE brokers. In such cases, no alternative to academy status is offered despite the existence of successful federations and partnerships within the local authority sector. No minutes of meetings with brokers are made available for governors to judge their accuracy or impartiality. Documentation of the brokers’ discussions with other parties is not provided. Governors do not see a copy of a broker’s final report to their political masters or a copy of their response to the report. When, as Mr Kelly says, “it’s time to get tough”, justice not only has to be done but has to be seen to be done. This is not happening.

Colin Richards, Spark Bridge, Cumbria.