As amusing as your comparison between the split in a grammar school federation and that between Ashley and Cheryl Cole was, perhaps too much time was spent on this and not getting to grips with the reality of selective education in England today. (“Controversial marriage in tatters after three years - but this one is a first for schools”, February 26).

You described the two Boston schools involved as “high performing single-sex grammar schools”. As deputy head in a truly high performing specialist school I am dismayed by such misleading ignorance.

The two grammar schools last year gained 83 per cent and 95 per cent for five A*-C grades including English and maths - compared with 98.2 per cent for grammar schools nationally. Their key stage 2 to 4 CVA measures were 980.1 and 988.2, well below national expectations. Would it not be much more accurate to describe these as “failing” single-sex grammar schools?

Ian Widdows, Deputy head, The Giles School, Old Leake, Boston, Lincolnshire.