I am very disappointed at the comments made by Councillor Pat Hawkes, the previous chair of children, families and schools (Letters, June 2).

They were a deliberate attempt to try to show that the Tory Party locally is not in tune with the party nationally, which is just not true.

As Coun Hawkes knows full well the Tories locally have always supported the possibility of Falmer School becoming an academy, which is in total accord with our policy nationally. As far as the school admissions debate is concerned the leader of the council, Coun Brian Oxley, has never stated that he would overturn the decision. We have consistently said that we would review the position in the autumn of this year as soon as the pattern of preferences for 2008 is known, and this will be done. The independent schools adjudicator has called a public meeting to hear all sides of the debate on June 12 and he is the only person now with the authority to make changes to the admissions criteria for 2008.

We fully support David Willetts's view that "education reform must always rest on the key principles of fair funding and fair admissions".

Councillor Vanessa Brown
deputy leader of the council,
chairman, children, families and
schools, Brighton and Hove City Council