I WRITE in support of Theresa May’s proposal to open new grammar schools. I had the tremendous good fortune to attend Queen Anne’s in York from 1955-62. It was eventually closed by York Council. As my former history teacher remarked, it was the “murder of a great school”.

I believe that the council wanted to sell the land and buildings to property developers but thankfully English Heritage stopped that.

I was a working class girl from a council estate and went to Queen Anne’s with three others from that same estate. The pupils were not financially or socially advantaged, nor to the best of my knowledge did their parents employ tutors to get them through the 11-plus.

I cannot for the life of me see why academic excellence is denied to those who are gifted but selection is allowed for those with sporting or musical prowess.

The comprehensive system has failed – look at the slide down the international league tables. York’s parents are lucky that their schools are not “bog standard” but I guarantee they would not choose to send their children to most inner London comprehensives.

The hypocrisy of the elite left on this subject astounds me. Most of them were private or grammar school educated and make sure their own offspring enjoy the best schools that money or influence can buy!

Carole Tucker (nee Marshall), Hillside Gardens, London