As a former pupil during the 1980s, my parents did not decide, as Mr Smith suggests, that 'state education was not good enough for me'. They wanted, as most parents do, to give their child things they never had growing up.

My parents were not rich, but they both worked full time to pay my school fees. They believed a good education was an important basis for life.

I am very grateful to them.

Current pupils at Brantwood have my sympathy at this difficult time. Taking delight in their misfortune is neither appropriate nor admirable.

Paula Thomas-Ketbi, Sandygate Grove, Sheffield 10

I WISH I had been behind that woman who said 'Serves 'em right for going to a posh school'.

My daughter goes to Brantwood and everyone thinks that private schools are 'posh'. That is far from the truth.

At Brantwood there are a diversity of people who chose to send their daughters to this school. I sent my daughter there because I didn't trust the state schools in my area.

There are many pupils at Brantwood that have special needs and Brantwood seemed to fulfil their needs, and have done so for 108 years.

People scrimp and save to put their children through private education because, like me, they want the best for their child and find some state schools sadly lacking.

Unless you have actually been to a private school and seen the quality of teaching there I wish you would stop knocking it.

Not everyone is posh. Their are working class families that want the best. Is that so wrong?

If we went back to the state education system it will be overloaded, so I feel that our children will suffer, and we are saving the state money by paying to privately educate our children.

We are still trying to fight to save the school: it is not completly over until the fat lady sings!

Angry Brantwood Parent, Sheffield

I AM appalled at the way RBS has handled the situation of closing Brantwood School for Girls.

Before Christmas the school was valued at £1million by an approved RBS surveyor and, lo and behold, just five weeks later after another survey by an approved RBS valued the school at £600,000. Then, miraculously, an offer has been put to the school even though it is not on the market...for that exact same amount.

They can't look at the survey as RBS are saying it's confidential.

In my opinion they want to get their money out of the school and make as much as they can in the quickest time available. It stinks!

I feel as though I have lost a big part of my family and am going through a bereavement! I haven't stopped crying since I got the letter, but Brantwood will not give up without a fight!

Donna Morton, extremely angry parent, Sheffield

I WAS appalled to read that RBS have pulled the plug on the finances of Brantwood Independant School. It was founded in 1902 and is a serious loss to Sheffield.