READING the report on Combe Primary School and headteacher Wendy Foster’s remarks (Oxford Mail, April 2), I soon understood why it’s the best in the country.

The school, which is part of a cohesive local community, uses, as far as politicians will allow, proven traditional methods within a moral Christian framework.

Interestingly, 93 per cent of Combe School pupils were awarded level five in English. Oxford Mail readers who follow such matters may have noticed remarks made by Dr Mary Bousted, General Secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers at the union’s recent annual conference.

She attacked the dumbing down of the British educational system saying: “It has destroyed English.”

Not only did she condemn Labour’s policies as “daft” but said the Tories’ plans were “dafter”.

Given the present deplorable state of English, might I suggest that those interested read The Great Reading Disaster: Reclaiming our Educational Birthright by Mona NcNee.

Let’s hope we won’t have too many anguished howls from Labour. Though, without doubt, there’ll be some self-righteous utterances from Tories, Greens and Lib Dems claiming to possess the educational philosopher’s stone.

STEPHEN WARD, Tudor Close, Oxford