Many of our finest schools understand the passion of the formerly oppressed to climb the ladder offered by education. They enthusiastically pack their dorms with the children of African and Asian billionaires.

Yet, as the experience of one of our most distinguished educators has demonstrated, they are not always so keen to offer the same opportunity to other poor but clever children even if someone else is prepared to pay. And the reason is, shockingly, entirely to do with race.

Sir Bryan Thwaites celebrated his 96th birthday this month, after a long and distinguished academic career. He was a scholarship boy at Dulwich College and Winchester College. I have no doubt that in his own childhood, he can see the impact of better access to