Sir, As the former head of an independent school, now working for one of the leading City livery companies directly involved in the setting up of academies, I endorse all that the heads of ten independent schools are striving to achieve (letters, April 21).

The contrast between the best and the less good schools in Britain is a national disgrace. It is not good enough for half the population to be educated inadequately. Every community should have an outstanding school in its midst, and every pupil the opportunity of a stimulating and appropriate education. To its credit the Government has grasped this nettle and recognises that local authorities may not be the best people to set up and run these schools, rather they can act as commissioners, enabling the longstanding successful providers of education, for example, the independent school trusts and the livery companies, to do so.

This does, however, require successful schools in both private and public sectors to be creative and imaginative in reaching out beyond their walls to spread their educational DNA. In all of this, good governance is vital. Good governors will appoint and support good heads.

The City livery companies have long experience of doing just this. They were deeply involved in the great wave of Tudor and Stuart foundation of endowed schools, in the creation of schools for the middle classes in the mid and late Victorian period in the footsteps of Dr Arnold, and now are strongly committed to the third and no less important wave, the academy programme, in establishing good schools in areas where they have been lacking.

David Gibbs
Education Officer, the Worshipful Company of Skinners
London EC4

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