Sir – I noticed that there were no less than five glossy adverts for independent Schools in the last edition of The Oxford Times.

This made me wonder how state schools might promote themselves. I expect the following attributes would be noted: l Schools where children are taught by fully trained, highly dedicated and often inspirational teachers l Schools where children’s needs are put before parental aspirations l Schools where the vast majority of children reach or exceed their potential l Schools where all strata of the local community meet, tolerate, understand and grow up with one another.

These are the features of schools I have worked in over a period of 30 years, in five different counties and in very contrasting settings.

Perhaps if more parents visited these schools before being lured away by glossy adverts, our children would develop into the sort of well-educated, fully rounded and positive adults that society desires and deserves.

Bob Forster Shipton-under-Wychwood