Letter: Woodhead's targets

Sir: It is disingenuous of Chris Woodhead to set up a mythical Aunt Sally in order to attack it. The truth is that most of us who are opposed to, or have misgivings about, the Government's educational strategy are not remotely elitist or even intellectual.

If there must be league tables, would it not make sense to take a leaf out of soccer's book and introduce a system of divisions? It would at least end the anomaly of expecting inner-city schools with a high ethnic intake having to compete on equal terms with wealthy, middle-class institutions with their highly-motivated students.

On the other hand, the sooner this misleading, invidious and cynical gimmick is abolished, the happier those of us who actually believe in education will be.

G L SAMSON

Abingdon,

Oxfordshire