THE campaign by the Government and the county council to force local primary schools to become academies (Oxford Mail, February 7) is causing real damage to children’s education in Oxford.

Two excellent, well-liked and improving primary schools, in areas I represent, Larkrise and John Henry Newman, have had the rug pulled from under them by this academy threat.

Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Education, wants to break up local education authorities and is being helped by the Tories on Oxfordshire County Council. Hard-working teachers and committed governors are being undermined.

The needs of children are simply ignored by this fixation with academies as a quick fix to poor test and exam results in the county.

Cllr Michael Wayne, the former County Cabinet member, let the cat out of the bag the other day.

He claimed it was unfair to criticise Oxfordshire school results when the comparison is with areas of the country that spend two and three times as much on schools as we do. Indeed, it is years of under-spending which are at the root of inadequate education for so many of our children.

John Henry Newman in Littlemore has a new headteacher who is working wonders.

Larkrise in East Oxford has an experienced head who is making huge improvements in the children’s education.

Neither school will benefit from bringing in a sponsor, taking away the rights of local parents and ending the professional support of the county council.

That is why Oxford City Council is setting up its own fund to help Oxford schools improve. We will work with teachers and parents, not against them, to do the best we possibly can for Oxford’s children.

Cllr Melinda Tilley should not underestimate the damage to the morale of teachers and parents that all this talk of academies creates.

JOHN TANNER (Labour Cllr) Board Member for a Cleaner, Greener Oxford City Councillor for Littlemore & County Councillor for Isis