Sir, The notion that pupils from independent schools have greater self belief (“Secret of top schools is to give self belief”, Mar 7) is not new.
At the state secondary school where I was head in the 1990s, we warned sixth formers attending Oxbridge admission interviews that they might be put off by displays of self-confidence by candidates from independent schools.
We also stressed that they should not equate such displays with a greater degree of academic ability or self-awareness. Many of our candidates were successful.
Eryl Parry
Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire
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