The problem is not the number of students who enter secondary school at level 4 (“Ofsted bids to toughen up primary literacy targets”, 16 March). Instead, the problem is the fact that all students enter secondary school regardless of their primary levels. American education is not perfect, but much could be learned from their system of progression. It seems ludicrous that a student who is not meeting the standard in Year 1 is allowed to progress to Year 2, and so on. The difference between those who are meeting the standard and those who are not then increases as they fall further behind.

The automatic, guaranteed progression from year to year is the reason why my colleagues find themselves teaching primary literacy skills to secondary students.

Diana Detterick, Head of Englishliteracy coordinator, Slough Grammar School.