Sir – Magdalen is second best independent school in UK, (Report, November 18) mentions that SS Philip and James in North Oxford is the only state primary school in the county to be included in the 2010 Sunday Times top 100 state primaries list.

I was delighted you mentioned that one of our Church of England schools had done so well, but would like to point out, that Shiplake CE School in Henley-on-Thames, was also in the top 100, ranked at number 39.

I was also very proud that within the Times top 500 state primaries there were two more of our schools; Cropredy CofE School, Banbury, was number 119 and Trinity CofE School, Henley-on-Thames was number 377.

We also featured in the top 50 small state primaries, with Appleton CofE Primary School in Abingdon ranking 23rd and Ewelme, near Wallingford, ranking 35.

Ewelme was founded in 1437 and is the oldest continuously functioning school building in the country.

I am very pleased that we have featured in these league tables and would like to say thank you to everyone involved in helping provide a good education for pupils at Diocese of Oxford schools.

This is particularly relevant as we head towards the 200th anniversary of free Church of England schools in 2011.

Leslie Stephen, Director of Education, Diocese of Oxford