In response to Joe from Oxford: Your talk of 'Great' universities, 'national treasures' , 'traditional backgrounds' and competition with the United States betrays an odious elitism. Instead of subsidising Oxbridge in the same manner as we do other HEIs what we should be doing is promoting excellence and access for all at other universities around the country. At present these universities are undermined by Oxbridge, which has the resources to offer more to its staff and students. This has a detrimental impact on regional economies. Oxbridge should have less HEFCE funding and instead increase the proportion of its spend that comes from its independent wealth (and should still offer its services free). We could then encourage more gifted young people to study at excellent and well-resourced regional universities. Oxbridge would hardly suffer as it would still be enormously wealthy, and many other more deserving universities would benefit. Of course, more money all round would help this!

Don Craigton, wakefield, u.k.

Nicola Woolcock, It appears to me that you are a very selective reader. When I read your article I wondered whether we had read the same researh report. Hardly any mention about the criticisms of the ranking exercises!

peter, birmingham,

In response to don craigton:

*Sigh*, when will the public learn. If we want our best universities to keep up with the finanical power of the big American universities, we need to give them more money not less. The alternative, is for Oxford, to, like the big US unis (bar Berkley) become private. However, this would mean that only rich students could get in. Undoing all the good work the Oxford Access Scheme (of whom yours truly volunteers) has done in increasing the number of applications and places for students with non traditional backgrounds entering the university.

Why is it that in America, the great universities are celebrated as national treasures, wheras the great British public can only show reverse prejudice and bigotry towards the "Ivory Towers" who are frankly, from personal experience, working there behinds off to make the university appear like a realistic aim for kids from all backgrounds.

Our enemies in this: The Media
Some teachers who have unfonded personal view

Joe , Oxford,