SIR — In respect of executive head teacher Ian Bradbury's proposal for a new free school for years nine to 11, I was surprised to read so many negative views from readers in the Free Press.

I fully support the thinking behind such a proposal. It is good to have a choice and an alternative in everything, and this is true in education.

It is unfortunate that not many parents who had the opportunity to vote on this issue took advantage and voiced their opinion either way.

I urge parents and carers of all children in the catchment area for West Somerset, from pre-school age right up to 16, to spend some time researching the ethos behind the idea of a free school and actually looking at what your children are learning.

Are they achieving to their best ability, what are their long term prospects educationally, will they be able to sit a full range of GCSE exams?

I say this because West Somerset Community College appears to have a bias towards vocational subjects when actually it is so important that all young people attending mainstream school are able to read, write, communicate and have a basic numeric ability, and some GCSEs grade A-C in academic subjects to back this up.

Whilst numbers of pupils in the schools are currently relatively low, with all the new house building in Minehead and the inevitable EDF development at Hinkley Point will we not see a significant increase in families over the next five to ten years?

We have to look further ahead and a new free school does not necessarily mean the college has to suffer.

It might need to adapt, it might need to raise its game, but that can only be to the good of all the students, making sure they can be competitive and survive further afield or be entrepreneurial here.

We are living in a tough world, we cannot all live off the beautiful environment here, and we must prepare our children the best way we can to ensure they have the best possible chance to make something of themselves as adults.

Ian Bradbury may not be everyone's best friend but he runs a tight ship and has high standards for all the children who pass through his care.

The whole matter needs further consideration and should not be dismissed.

Julia Williamson,

Sampford Brett.