I was delighted to read Margaret Smart’s excellent letter (26 April) in response to your article about academies (“Class divide”, 19 April). Having worked for a number of years with local authorities as a diocesan adviser, I can attest to the great value of being part of a local authority and being able to call on its expertise in so many fields. It is much to be regretted the Government appears to be working for the demise of its influence. Pope Francis, in his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, highlights the responsibility of Christians to be missionary and inclusive. Catholic school communities at their best have an evangelical influence on local authorities and on their neighbouring schools. It is possible that academies may be in danger of creating Catholic g