Why is the Tory government hellbent on expansion of the academy and free school programmes when OECD data indicates that school choice and competition are not related to improved performance (Why I choose to have less choice, 19 May)? Education policy is clearly being ideologically driven rather than by what is in the best interests of children and young people.
Fiona Carnie
European Forum for Freedom in Education
• You report on a new company offering “jam jar accounts” (Money, 16 May). Such accounts are available from credit unions. These are well established in the UK and are locally based and locally owned, being cooperatives. Rather than starting new organisations, it would surely be better to use existing ones which already serve millions of people in the country.
Alan Camina
Vice-president, Norwich Credit Union
• In the Financial pages, an attractive young woman appears with the caption “Inflation became entrenched in Britain by the latter years of the 1960s” (19 May). Surely a pile of coins and a bundle of notes would be more appropriate. Are you trying to seduce the Sun’s readers?
Barbara Prothero
Harpenden, Herts
• Your G2 cover (18 May) refers to Stephen Kinnock “following in his father’s footsteps”. How about “following in his mother’s and father’s footsteps” instead? More accurate; less sexist.
Steve Gray
Cardiff
• The photo of female members of Covent Garden’s Verdian chorus (18 May) waiting in the wings shows a third of them on their phones. La donna è mobile?
Martin Davis
Cheltenham
• In the search for new ideas about Down Street tube station (Deep, dark, complex…, 19 May) has anyone thought of reopening it as a station?
Rev Dr Peter Phillips
Swansea
