IT was very disturbing to read in the Free Press that Sir William Borlase's School in Marlow is, this year, so oversubscribed.

Some of its classes will have to be held in the school library, some pupils will miss the equivalent of eight days schooling a year, that staffing is not adequate and the school is, as a consequence, liable to end up some £25,000/£30,000 "in the red" at the end of the year.

What is not mentioned is any end of the absurd practice of taking pupils from outside the county. Parents of such children do not contribute to Bucks taxes and are significant in our traffic pollution as they deliver and collect their children.

Surely it is irresponsible of our county education authority to exclude Marlow pupils with high 11+ passes in preference to "out-of-county" pupils who might have been privately "crammed" for their 11+, and are accommodated because their affluent parents do not agree with the comprehensive system of education decreed by the Government and which their local authorities have complied with whilst Bucks just have not.

The same problem applies at Wycombe's Royal Grammar School and so the unfortunate Marlow children, adequately qualified by their 11+ results, are bussed round the county to other grammar schools at considerable expense both in time and money.

Marlow children should have priority right to attend Marlow schools and, if the provision is inadequate, then relevant schools should urgently be constructed.

Marlow's population is rapidly expanding but relevant social facilities are, demonstrably, not.

Our councils have an obligation to provide facilities but they are failing. Political myopia? This blatant incapability to population needs adequate provision rather than just apathy and confusion by obviously politically prejudiced elected councillors. The result is that more children pass their 11+ at high, eligible, levels and are not being accommodated for.

Whilst Borlase can get approval and some £2 million for a 250-seat theatre and recording studios etc they cannot or maybe will not adapt to the needs of children whose parents pay some of the highest local taxes in the country whilst accommodating children whose parents do not.

Bill Purdie, West Street, Marlow