WHEN the idea of grant-maintained schools was offered to parents by a previous Conservative government, very few schools ‘opted out’, even with the offer of an extra sum of money for schools which did so.

Most parents preferred their elected representatives to have some control.

In by-passing parents and allowing unelected governors to decide on becoming an academy, the present Government is going against its own support of parental choice.

SHEILA CUSS, Newland, Witney