Every public school teacher stands with pride when reading Farzam Zaher’s grateful respect for his public school education (“I succeeded because of public school, not despite it”, August 9). The public system itself has increasingly offered internal options for students, with selective and specialist high schools (such as performing arts or elite sport schools) and even specialist streams within comprehensive public schools. Farzam Zaher (and others like him) are indeed shining examples arising from public schools, but there are many who need and deserve greater individual attention and funding to ensure success and to counter the inequities inherent in our communities.