Schools' obstacle race
From Mrs Philippa Francis Sir: As a London mother of three children, I grinned empathetically through Rachel Johnson's article ('Cruelty to grown-ups', 24 February). I have box files full of prospectuses and years of diary entries for school-viewing days, interview dates and 'depositpayable-by' dates. I have long since binned 'the strong field of candidates' letters. At times, in the three childhoods for which I am responsible, the process of school entry has become pretty much a full-time occupation. What is more, in common with many 'middle-class mummies' of my acquaintance, I am allowed only limited air-time on the subject.
While, sadly, boycotting the system is not a realistic option (another debate), it would be a huge improvement if London preparatory schools could introduce a centralised entry system, perhaps limiting parents to a choice of three schools. The cost of such a scheme would be more than covered by all those individual registration fees, and no school would then need three full-time employees to process applications (perhaps they could be seconded to this centralised body).
Rachel Johnson is right: it is a cruel, ludicrous and unintelligent system. Time for a campaign — but I can't face the box files!
Philippa Francis London SW1
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