SIR - Mike Pollard’s concerns about the excellent review undertaken by Professor Woods (Letters, December 31) is perhaps missing the fact that the report has been vigorously welcomed in all its detail by myself and the 80 per cent of heads who met with the author to work on the conclusions.

I have spoken about the need to get behind its conclusions, and discussed it with regional Ofsted. To be able to get the man who helped drive the effective ‘London Challenge’ to do this for £3,000 was more than good value.

In addition a group of Bradford heads went to a number of London schools to learn from the Challenge experience.

The full report went to the Education Improvement Board and all group leaders with no restriction. I don’t recall ever seeing Cllr Sunderland at that board, so it’s someone who was not at a meeting arguing with what took place at said meeting.

The era of school isolationism and fragmentation has to end. What we now need in Yorkshire is a commitment by Government to fund the London Challenge approach that worked so well in London for Yorkshire.

Ralph Berry, Labour Councillor Wibsey Ward, Bradford