Education and Grammar Schools

When I was (until recently) a member of the Labour Party there were times when many of us marvelled at the infinite capacity we appeared to have of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. It is now clear that we did not have a monopoly of this particular commodity.

The Tory Party have got themselves into a right tizz-waz over Grammar Schools. Ironically there was no need to do so since the real issue is not whether you select and stream pupils or what you call the school. Selection and streaming happens whether children go to Grammar Schools or Comprehensives. The real necessity in State Education is to bring all schools up to the standard enjoyed by pupils in private education. This demands investment to improve the school environment, a policy of not trying to micro manage schools, restoring the authority of the Headmaster and a reduction in the size of classes by approximately fifty per cent.

The arguments should be about how we best achieve the improvement.