AS A parent of children who once benefited from a good education at Marlwood School, I was saddened to read about their current situation in last week’s Gazette ('School put into special measures' and comment).

However, I take issue with the implication that their current woes are due to a 40 per cent reduction in funding.

In fact a dominant part of that reduction is due to falling rolls.

Since their last Ofsted inspection four years ago pupil numbers have reduced from nearly 1,000 to around 650, including a reduction in those on 16-19 study programmes from about 170 to 100.

Money isn’t always the root of all evil.

Let’s focus on the real question which is why pupil numbers have been declining when the demand for secondary school places near Bristol has seen a huge rise.

Stan Rodliffe

Thornbury