In 1997, when Tony Blair famously made "education, education, education" his political mantra during Labour's election campaign, what he actually meant was "training, training, training".

Concerned about Britain's economic well being, he believes only with a fully-educated or trained workforce will the country be able to face the problems of the future.

Hence his concern about city academies and his belief they will provide a skilled and adaptable workforce.

However, education has other functions, not least of which is the development of an individual's life to be something which is personally fulfilling, not to mention making a society which is united and contented.

The more fragmented and divisive the educational system of a country, the more fragmented and discontented the overall society itself will become.

In other words, those who learn together find it easier to live together.

The education of the people is the responsibility of the whole community and not for certain sub-sections of it, be they religious or commercial.

For these reasons, I view the spread of city academies and faith schools with growing concern.

-RG Jenkins, Hove