Sir - Your article Schools under pressure to improve results (May 2) draws attention to a summit to which local authorities will be invited to tackle poor GCSE results.

At the summit local authorities will be encouraged to consider a number of options, ones which are, for the most part, already in place here in Oxfordshire. The local authority has long recognised the need to raise standards. We have recently announced our intention to recruit new staff with recent headship experience (not to run schools but to provide advice and support). Learning from good practice within and without the county and partnership with better performing schools are well established practices. A diverse and mixed economy of schools is emerging, with schools moving to foundation, trust or academy status depending on their particular circumstances.

There is however a common denominator, in every case, the decision to move to a new status is underpinned by a wish to raise pupil achievement.

The Government is right to be serious about raising achievement; we are too, not just in relation to a few schools, but all schools. The need for improvement may be more marked in some than others but there should be (and is) a constant drive to sustain and build on existing levels of performance across the piece.

The summit, to which we have yet to be invited, will, no doubt, contribute to our strategy in this important area.

Janet Tomlinson, Director for children, young people and families, Michael Waine, Cabinet member for school improvement