Sir, I was interested to read the article in the Herald (January 16) about the trend for Oxfordshire schools to become academies.

I was rather surprised to read on the same page that Melinda Tilley, cabinet member for education, “is concerned about the authority’s growing loss of control as more schools become academies”.

Last year, Mrs Tilley said that she would like all Oxfordshire schools to become academies, and in July the County Council agreed an academies policy which states that “The county council wishes to support all schools to become academies.”

During the year, there were numerous conferences and meetings organised by the county council for school leadership teams and governors where the message came across loud and clear that schools were being strongly encouraged (some might say pressurised) to become academies.

It was obvious to most people that as more schools became academies so the ability of the local authority to provide services would decrease proportionately. It is unfortunate that Mrs Tilley and her colleagues did not foresee this before they began the hard sell. I am a primary school governor, but I am writing in a personal capacity.

Maggie Mellersh

St John’s Road

Grove