Sir – Councillor Tilley’s reported reaction to the results of Key stage 2 tests as “inexcusable” and “basically rubbish” do not reflect careful perusal of the details, which indicate that, in many schools, pupils have achieved the minimum standard and, in many cases, well above.

These remarks are hardly encouraging to the heads, governors and, above all, the teachers, who are working their socks off to achieve the best for their children. I include those working in city schools, where I suspect the high level of children, arriving at all times of the year, with English as a second, or even third language must depress the results of indigenous children.

If this is the case, it should be clearly stated, and strategies devised, and made generally known, to help such schools, not vilify them.

Councillor Tilley states that, in the case of a few schools, she “wishes she could step in now”. Could she please announce what she would do, coming as she does to responsibilities without any apparent educational background. This is also, it seems, the case with Meera Spillett, soi-disant director of education, whose professional background seems to have been in children’s services rather than education.

The steady drip of secondary schools seeking academy status reflects, to my mind, an increasing lack of confidence in the county’s education leadership to supply the experienced diagnosis of schools’ problems, and the support needed to help them overcome them.

I cannot help feeling that a report on councillor Tilley’s term’s work would conclude with the words ‘must do better’.

Martin Sheldon, Headington Quarry