Sir, Ed Balls and Michael Gove can trade pre-election blows over free school meals pupils (Times Online, Mar 9 ) but they are missing the point. Recent research by the Forum of Independent Day Schools (FIDS) has shown that just under 10 per cent of their pupils qualify for educational maintenance allowances (EMAs) and that almost three quarters of those leaving their schools at 18 progress to one of the top 30 universities.

It is a great pity that no political party appears to want to explore the possibility of widening this access for children, especially for those who do not have the option of a place at a high-achieving state secondary school.

Michael Gibbons
Headmaster,
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School,
Wakefield
Mary Ireland
Head,
Bancroft’s School
Nicholas Hammond
Headmaster,
Wisbech Grammar School
David Mascord Secretary,
FIDS
Julian Thould
Head Master,
King Edward VI School,
Southampton

Sir, My six-year-old son is given spelling, writing and reading homework every day. This homework requires an adult to sit with him, explain concepts, read and correct his writing and spelling.

I can imagine a huge difficulty in carrying out these tasks in lone-parent families and by those parents who work long hours or who are not themselves able to read and write.

How are we to close the gap between the advantaged and disadvantaged if school policy engenders daily disadvantages to those who already would have many factors influencing poor performance?

Lucie Byrne-Davis
Greasby,
Wirral

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