SIR - You reported on public schools justifying themselves in the light of the Charity Commission ruling that they need to show community benefit in order to keep their charitable status.

Far from gratefully accepting these crumbs from the high tables of public schools, I think Alan Bennett hit the nail on the head when he said that they should be abolished, and paying for educational privilege should not be part of our education system.

This truly is the elephant in the corner in any debate on education in this country, and is the root of much unfairness in the future career prospects for our young people.

How much ill-feeling would be eliminated if we could all rely on state education to be the "gold standard", and our abilities were the best currency, not our wallets!

ANTHONY WOOD, Worcester.