"Sir Peter Lampl of the Sutton Trust has put forward an interesting proposal to encourage schools to provide places at independent schools for bright students which are based on merit. At NAGC, we fully support an approach where the reach of someone's potential is not dependent on the size of their parents' income. However, there must also be recognition of the excellent work already being done by the independent schools which already provide subsidised places to lower income families; something which they do not, in my opinion, publicise enough. In addition, alongside the Sutton Trust proposals, we need to recognise the excellent schools within the State sector which work hard to iron out disadvantage amongst our most able students. In NAGC's last national survey, 92% of parents felt that, if it spent its money once, the Government should support more training for teachers in how to support our most able children, including recognising the characteristics of giftedness and what will inspire these children to achieve success. Parallel to Sir Peter Lampl's strategy therefore there should be an overarching approach to ensure all schools in whichever sector achieve the excellence our pupils with high learning potential deserve."