Sir – One of the iniquities of the academy system was highlighted in the survey of countywide A-level results, by Oxford Academy not supplying any figures and, moreover, the head flatly refusing any comments other than that students had done well. Parents and teachers throughout the county should be made fully aware that academies are solely accountable to the Secretary of State; they do not have to respond to any request for information about the school from local sources.

Should schools countywide respond to councillor Tilley’s aspiration that they become academies, it will mean that swathes of the community will be cut off from any information about their school’s performance. These schools are entirely funded by us as taxpayers. It is disgraceful that, as of right, we cannot learn how our taxes are being spent, or their effectiveness.

Martin Sheldon, Headington Quarry