Sean Whittle (“A third way for Catholic schools”, 24 October) calls for a re-evaluation of the role of Catholic schools in modern Britain. His article is thought-provoking and timely. Many of our Catholic schools were established in the nineteenth century to meet the needs of poor immigrants from Ireland and elsewhere. Over the years, they have played a vital part in enabling the disadvantaged to integrate into society. To their great credit, many Catholic schools continue to fulfil this historic role. However, these ideals are being undermined by the increasing influence of market choice. Now, a place in a Catholic school is often regarded as a valuable commodity, sought after for the social and economic advantage it is thought to confer. For those schools deemed to be the mo