Our child got into his first choice, over subscribed, high school on his academic ability.
Not only is the uniform and all the equipment required, far more expensive that that required by the local community school.
We have now been asked for 'voluntary' contributions to the school, running into several hundred of pounds per year.
we are not really in a position to be able to afford them yet they are non negotiable.
so now I feel we are being financially penalized for attempting to help our child fulfill his academic potential.
it really is becoming a two tier system.
A good education seems only to be available to those that can afford it.

sandra, liverpool, merseyside

Partial apology to Ray Baker, Newcastle, but only partial: whenever one makes generalisations, as is necessary when limited to 1000 characters, one risks sounding a bigot.

It is unarguable, that the middle class is composed of more parents who value education; who support schools, who bring their children up to behave properly in class. This allows teachers to spend more time teaching, and fewer lessons are ruined by disruptive pupils.

There's nothing I admire more than people who have struggled against the odds to achieve. They are better men/women than me. But social mobility is decreasing under this government. It's a scandal. The govt's policy seems to be a coordinated attack on the schools that are doing better, while the money they throw at poorer schools does nothing. The govt is trying very hard to pin the blame for this on "sharp elbowed middle classes", which is a disgraceful, cowardly abdication of its responsibility and culpability.

Andrew Forbes, Thames Ditton, Surrey

The problem of parents who go to great lengths, whether financial or deceptive, to place their children in better schools, whether private, grammar, faith or superior comprehensive, would be completely removed were the government fulfil its duty in ensuring that all schools were equally good in terms of education and equipment. Simple as that. Just as it is the parent's responsibility to do the best for the child, it's the government's responsibility to ensure the best for all children. Over to you, Mr Balls.

Amanda Hopkins, Rugby,

It saddens me that nothing much is likely to happen to those state schools which have indulged in unlawful admissions practices. Taxpayers, especially those whose children have greatly lost out as a consequence of dubious admissions practices, have every right to feel aggrieved. Where there is evidence of a school blatantly breaching the admissions code there is evidence of poor school management.

Although the inquiry identified faith establishments as the main culprits, other types of schools were in the wrong as well.

Des, Edinburgh,

It's an ideological problem that the socialist
have they want everybody dumped into the same low performing pond. Except the labour politicians own children, hopefully
somebody could list all the government
ministers who have their children in selected schools.

Barry Holmes, Christchurch, New Zealand

I am stunned by the comments here of Andrew Forbes, does he really think the patronage of a child who has been forced to do his or her homework is worth more than that of a child who has struggled against the odds to win through? If so he may be morally bankrupt! Educational placement should be based on residence within the catchment area of the school, then on the child themseves, not on the parents! Pushy parents have ruined more than enough childhoods, children cowering in bedrooms around this land in fear of not doing as well at school as demanded by their parents. Shame on those parents.

Ray Baker, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

All schools that I know ask parents to make voluntary donations. Fundraising actvities, charitable donations, school fairs, concerts, as well as more formal requests for money. In my experience, the parents can't or won't pay anything are often the parents who make little or contribution to the life of the school. Time for the government to stop interfering. as for the teachers' unions, a little more concentration on quality and professionalism and a little less on social engineering would be nice

maire lowe, london, UK

Parents want the best for their children and will do what they can to achieve it. This appears to be a mind boggling concept too complicated for the current government to understand. There is no way to stop this instinct. If schools select by catchment area, affluent parents will push up property prices in that area until an equilbrium is reached. If parents can make charitable donations to schools to ensure a place for their kid then they will do that instead.

It is human nature at work. All of the NASUWT's pathetic moralizing will make no difference. The only solution is to bring this black market in education out into the open and let schools admit pupils by whichever criteria they like and to issue vouchers to parents. Let the state give some and allow parents to pay more if they wish.

The alternative, selection by lottery ensures only equality of dissatisfaction.

Raj Chande, London,

There is nothing new in schools requesting some parents to make "donations to school funds" my father did and as far as I know it is as old as the hills: even Russia has the samw system!

William, London, UK

Can we see the evidence please?

Harry, Bognor Regis,

Yet another reason for scrapping faith schools.
Schools are for learning not for inculcating religious views.
Keep faith at home

Rodin, Metepec, Mexico

Don't believe it. This is spin at its darkest. Balls has made his speech, while also admitting 'its evidence was "unverified" and admitted it had not yet put the accusations to the schools themselves' As everyone knows, govt investigations of this sort invariably conclude what they were told to conclude.

This is the prelude to another assault on good schools which show up the bankruptcy of every govt initiative in the field of education. Since the veneer of Blair has gone, the class war of this govt has become increasingly naked and disgusting.

Let's get this straight: good schools did not become good schools, followed by middle parents elbowing poor children out of the way. It's the other way around: middle class parents sit at home and make their children do their homework; they back up teachers trying to impose discipline. Thus the schools that have more of these children are better.

Andrew Forbes, Thames Ditton, Surrey