I WAS disappointed to see my fellow college principal, Richard Heatly, of Hereford College of Arts, suggesting that privately educated students are the most likely to move away from Hereford to study at university (Talking Point, February 19).

It is true that young people from certain social backgrounds have more ‘cultural capital’ and access to financial support than many in the state sector, and a large proportion of these attend independent schools.

To suggest that this is the reason for their progression to elite universities and colleges is to denigrate the work of those maintained schools which ensure students from all backgrounds receive an education which overcomes differences in social circumstances and have a superb record in preparing students to make successful applications to highly competitive courses.

Hereford Sixth Form College sends more students to Oxford, Cambridge and other selective universities than all other schools, both state and independent, in the county combined.

The college prepares more students for National Youth Theatre auditions than any school in England and has a nationally recognised music scholarship programme, regularly sending students to the most prestigious conservatoires.

Unfortunately, the myth is also perpetuated (assiduously promoted by the independent sector), that by paying large sums of money it is possible to gain a ‘better’ education and an easy route to elite universities, drama schools and music colleges.

This is manifestly untrue at sixth form level in Hereford.

JONATHAN GODFREY Principal, Hereford Sixth Form College